MONROE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Two men have been arrested in connection with a string of home invasions earlier this week in Monroe County.
According to a release from the Stroud Area Regional Police Department, officers were called to a reported home invasion on Barry Street in Stroudsburg just before 11:00 a.m. on March 20.
The victims say a Hispanic man, later identified as 34-year-old Jose Ramirez of East Stroudsburg, allegedly armed with a knife entered their residence, demanded money and personal property, and then took their cell phones before fleeing in a silver SUV.
The release states that the victims followed them and broke the suspects' rear windshield at a red light before the suspects fled.
Olyphant man arrested for allegedly shooting exThe victims also reported that a white man, later identified as 35-year-old Anthony Ciccone of Bushkill, was driving the vehicle.
Later that day, another home invasion was reported on King Street in East Stroudsburg with the same description of events where Ramirez allegedly threatened homeowners, demanded money, and brandished a knife, according to officers.
Around 1:30 p.m. Thursday, a constable saw a vehicle that matched the victim's description traveling along Lackawanna Avenue in East Stroudsburg.
A traffic stop was conducted by Stroud Area Regional Police Department and identified that Ramirez and Ciccone were the suspects in the home invasions, according to the release.
Anthony Ciccone
Jose Ramirez
Courtesy of the Stroud Area Regional Police Department
Investigators say that Ramirez was positively identified as the suspect who entered the house brandishing the knife, while Ciccone was identified as the driver of the SUV.
Further investigation showed Ramirez and Ciccone robbed another man at knifepoint on Hallet Street in East Stroudsburg and conducted a burglary at a residence on Lackawanna Avenue.
Both Ramirez and Ciccone are being charged with numerous felony offenses, have been denied bail, and are being held at the Monroe County Correctional Facility.
Authorities ask anyone who has been a victim of a similar crime to contact Stroud Area Regional Police at (570) 421-6800.
Ciccone and Ramirez have preliminary hearings set for April 8.