NYC man, 20, busted for Gracie Mansion break-in, stolen Christmas ornament

Molly Crane-Newman, Rocco Parascandola, Ellen Moynihan and Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News on Jan 2, 2025

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

NEW YORK — A 20-year-old man recorded himself breaking into Gracie Mansion and swiping a Christmas ornament from Mayor Eric Adams’ home in the early hours of New Year’s Day, police said Thursday.

Michael Aromando climbed over a fence surrounding the mansion at East 88th Street and East End Avenue on the Upper East Side about 4:20 a.m. Wednesday, cops said.

He was then spotted by a member of the mayor’s security detail entering the mansion through a door typically used by Adams, police said. The mayor was not home at the time.

The mayor’s security detail, comprised of NYPD officers, found Aromando walking around Gracie Mansion and entering at least one bedroom.

He recorded his visit to the Mayor’s residence on his cellphone and recorded himself taking a Christmas ornament he found in a drawer, according to prosecutors.

Officers grabbed Aromando and charged him with burglary. The ornament was found on him.

He lives a half mile away and has no prior arrests, police said.

“Oh my god, I don’t know any of this,” a relative who asked that her name not be used said upon learning of the arrest. “He’s not that kind of kid.”

“None at all,” she said when asked if Aromando has any strong political views.

A Manhattan Criminal Court judge ordered Aromando held on $5,000 bail during his arraignment Thursday. The judge also set an 11 p.m. curfew for Aromando and ordered him to stay at least a block away from Gracie Mansion at all times.