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Crime

Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine speaks at a press conference to call on bail reform. Photo courtesy Ed Romaine flickr page

By Samantha Rutt

A chilling crime has shaken communities across Suffolk County as police discovered scattered human remains in Babylon and Bethpage, leaving residents horrified and demanding justice. 

The shock has escalated into outrage as local officials and law enforcement point fingers at Albany’s bail laws, which they claim have allowed suspects to walk free without posting bail.

County Executive Ed Romaine (R) minced no words in expressing his frustration, stating, “The failure of Albany’s bail laws has resulted in those charged with dismembering and placing body parts in our communities to walk free without posting any bail.” Romaine’s sentiments echoed the feelings of many Suffolk County residents who consider the current bail system is failing to protect the community.

In response to the recent crime, New York State Sen. Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk) and Assemblyman Michael Durso (R-Massapequa Park) swiftly introduced new legislation (S.8751) to address the shortcomings of the bail system. The proposed bill aims to make body dismemberment and concealment of a human corpse a bail-eligible offense, highlighting the urgency of the situation.

Palumbo condemned the current bail laws, stating, “Nobody with an ounce of sensibility would say it’s a good idea to let someone charged with the sickening act of human dismemberment leave jail and roam the streets.” Durso agreed, vowing to fight for change to ensure the safety of Suffolk County residents.

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney (R) also weighed in on the issue, responding to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s (D) statements on bail reform in relation to the recent tragic discoveries. Tierney accused the governor of being “completely clueless or deceitful” about the criminal justice system and defended the efforts of law enforcement in the face of what he called “a broken bail system.”

Assemblyman Ed Flood (R-Port Jefferson) added his voice to the chorus of criticism, expressing dismay over the release of suspects involved in the recent case where human remains were found. Flood denounced the lack of “humanity and morals” in the criminal justice system, attributing the problems to the flaws in bail reform laws.

The collective outcry from local officials emphasizes the need for action to address the failures of New York State’s bail laws. As communities continue to grapple with the consequences of these shortcomings, residents are looking to Albany for solutions that prioritize public safety and accountability in the criminal justice system.

Gov. Hochul responds

In a recent interview with PIX11, Hochul addressed concerns about bail reform, acknowledging the frustrations of law enforcement. She emphasized the importance of allowing judges to consider the whole body of evidence when making bail decisions and expressed her commitment to keeping people safe.

Hochul responded to additional comments made by Tierney, who suggested the need to reinstate the dangerousness clause and emphasized the law needs to be looked over. 

“The standard changed just a few months ago — less than a year ago — and instead of the standard of dangerousness, we ask the judges now to look at a whole body of evidence,” she stressed.

Meanwhile, the community remains on edge as law enforcement continues to investigate the disturbing crime that has left a deep impact on the residents of the respective areas. As the investigation unfolds, residents are hopeful that meaningful change will come.

“Now, this is a very unique circumstance in Suffolk County,” Hochul said. “I know the Suffolk County Police Department is working hard to get to the bottom of this as is the DA. … They’re doing their job and I respect that. But the bail laws I thought went too far in the wrong direction. I’m bringing them back, and we’re going to continue to make sure that we keep people safe.”

Pixabay photo

By Sabrina Artusa

In January, the Nassau and Suffolk counties police departments, the New York City Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation formed a task force designed to tackle burglaries and thefts across Long Island. The collaboration, “a multijurisdictional burglary and stolen car task force,” as described by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman (R) at the conference announcement in January, is the result of criminals crossing county and state lines. 

In Suffolk, 1,471 vehicles were reported stolen in 2022, up 20.8% from the 1,218 taken in 2021 — the most since nearly 1,600 cars and trucks were swiped in 2010, Newsday reports.

At a recent civic meeting in Port Jefferson Station, Suffolk County Police Department provided a COPE report from Jan. 23 to Feb. 27 for the respective area. Officier Efstathiou provide the report stating, “Out of the four grand larcenies [for this area] two were related to stolen vehicles. A Honda and a Hyundai right out of one’s driveway and one in front of one’s house both with no keys. Both still not recovered.” 

In September 2022, Hochul announced a five-step plan to combat the increasing numbers of car thefts across New York. 

“Too many New Yorkers have experienced the shock of waking up to an empty driveway … that is why we are supporting local law enforcement to prosecute and prevent these thefts,” she said.

Last month Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) reported that the DMV recovered 286 vehicles worth $8.6 million in 2023 under the Comprehensive Auto-Theft Reduction Strategy. A total of 142 were recovered in New York City and 42 on Long Island.

Kias and Hyundais are mainly being targeted, Hochul announced in September. After videos exposing how to steal these cars started circulating on social media, Hyundais and Kias remain most vulnerable. However, both companies have developed upgrades to offset the thefts.

“There was a big spike … a lot of it is associated with the COVID pandemic … crime surged, not only in New York, but all across the nation,” Hochul said. 

While it is true the national rate of motor vehicle theft in 2022 was the highest it has been since 2008, it is undetermined what role the pandemic played in this change. 

Part of Hochul’s five-part plan was to implement harsher punishments, fund more advanced technology for law enforcement, increase intervention or preventative programs for at-risk youth and to strengthen the prosecution of cases dealing with vehicle theft. She also sent a letter with Mark Schroeder, state Department of Motor Vehicles commissioner, to Kia and Hyundai owners, informing them of their vehicles’ susceptibility.

“Fortunately, there are some common-sense steps you can take to help prevent your car from being stolen, such as always locking your car doors and parking in well-lit areas,” the letter reads. “In addition, Kia and Hyundai have agreed to provide tools to strengthen your car’s anti-theft protections, including a software update and a window sticker.”

In November, state Sen. Jeremy Cooney (D-Rochester) proposed the Car Theft Prevention Act to counter the rising rates of car thefts. In Rochester, more than 3,800 motor vehicle thefts were reported in 2023. That number is nearly three times the total in 2022, which itself was a record year. 

This new bill adds the felony offenses of criminal possession of stolen property in the first through fourth degrees as bail-qualified offenses. 

File photo
By Aramis Khosronejad

An alarming larceny trend is rising in Suffolk County as thieves swipe wallets and credit cards from shopping carts at retail stores.

Between May and August 2023, Suffolk County Police Department 4th Precinct Inspector David Regina commented on the countywide increase in larcenies during the Smithtown Town Board’s meeting on Aug. 8. He attributed the spike to thefts from shopping carts.

The inspector described how offenders usually only take the victims’ wallets or even credit cards. Regina maintained that this leads to a dangerous problem and quandary for law enforcement: Victims are not immediately aware they’ve been robbed.

“What they’ll do is they’ll just take out the credit cards or the wallet,” Regina told the Town Board, “The victims will not know [because] it’s not like the whole bag is gone.”

When the victims discover they no longer have their cards or wallet, the suspect has already used their cards numerous times, racking up a substantial balance.

After using the credit cards, suspects will discard the cards, making it a “very hard crime to target,” according to Regina.

“There are many people that go for these opportunities,” he said. “This has been a significant portion of our larcenies.”

‘Overwhelmingly, they get away with it.’

— David Shapiro

As of now, SCPD is still investigating six larcenies of this variety. These thefts were reported and occurred between March and August of 2023. In addition, the department has alerted all shoppers not to leave their bags in their shopping carts unattended to avoid becoming victims of these thefts.

In a phone interview, David Shapiro, a distinguished professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, offered how the thieves identify their target victims.

“The victims are usually vulnerable,” he said, adding that victims are “usually unaccompanied” and, in most cases, “there’s no guardian there.”

Shapiro noted the ease with which these crimes are carried out, describing it as a “low-tech” offense and “a crime of opportunity.” Another incentive for the offenders to choose these kinds of scenarios is the low clearance rate, according to Shapiro.

“In other words,” he stated, “Overwhelmingly, they get away with it.”

According to the Suffolk County Police Department’s public information office, in all of the ongoing larceny investigations of this kind between March to August 2023, the perpetrators have attempted to use the victims’ credit cards.

Shapiro emphasized how profitable stolen wallets have become for thieves due to the factor of credit cards.

Shapiro commented that these crimes provide perpetrators with “some time to exploit the vulnerability of the online system, where you can spend rather quickly,” he added.

Other than the apparent financial threat of larcenies, another arguably more dangerous factor comes into play with stolen wallets and cards: identity theft.

Shapiro remarked on the possible threat of it, pointing out that in today’s time, “You have a lot of personal identifying information that is separately valuable apart from the currency,” he said, adding that all this personal information inside wallets holds a “value that may exceed the actual currency.”

The Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Civic Association held its Meet the Candidates forum at Comsewogue Public Library on Tuesday, Sept. 20.

The Democratic and Republican nominees for New York State’s 1st Senate District and 4th Assembly District attended this civic meeting. The candidates received time to deliver opening statements, then answered questions covering a range of local subjects, followed by closing remarks. 

(Left to right) Anthony Palumbo, Skyler Johnson, Steve Englebright, and Edward Flood. Photos by Raymond Janis

Introductions

Before entering elective office, incumbent state Sen. Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk) worked as an attorney in the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. He was in private practice for roughly 10 years before running for the state Assembly in 2013. He served the 2nd Assembly District until 2020, after which he assumed his current position.

Challenging Palumbo is Democrat Skyler Johnson, a 22-year-old Mount Sinai native and former political aide to Southampton Village Mayor Jesse Warren. If Johnson were to win this November, he would become the youngest person to serve in the state Legislature since Theodore Roosevelt.

In the Assembly race, incumbent state Assemblyman Steve Englebright (D-Setauket) is also up for reelection. Englebright, a geologist by training, joined the state Assembly in 1992. Before that, he served as a Suffolk County legislator for nearly a decade.

Edward Flood is Englebright’s Republican challenger in this race. Flood serves as an assistant attorney for the Town of Brookhaven and is the town’s lead prosecutor for town code violations.

LIRR electrification

Each candidate supported electrifying the Port Jefferson Branch line of the Long Island Rail Road, with some variations in approach. 

Englebright advocates moving the existing Port Jefferson train station onto the county-owned Lawrence Aviation property. This plan, the assemblyman believes, would bring value to the community in the form of cleaner air and higher property values. 

“I am working to try to get the Long Island Rail Road to come into the modern age,” he said. “We will prevail. The first thing to do is to have a community that’s united. … If this community is supportive of that, that will be a big boost.”

Flood condemned the MTA for its historical neglect of Long Island communities. He seeks to pressure the MTA’s governing board and add a local representative to that body. “I don’t believe we have a local representative, and I don’t think anyone on that board cares much about us,” he said. “That needs to change.”

Johnson criticized the needless delays for residents traveling to New York City by rail. He favored allocating more state resources to address these concerns.

“It’s not the most fun trip getting onto the Long Island Rail Road,” he said. “We need to continually invest in the Long Island Rail Road because that will properly benefit our communities, it will help people commute, help people live better lives, and it will make our communities cleaner and safer.”

Palumbo underscored several of these points, backing his support behind moving the Port Jeff train station to the Lawrence Aviation property. “All of those issues are extremely important to this community,” he said. “I think we all agree that this is something that needs to be done.”

Homelessness

Another central topic for Port Jefferson Station/Terryville residents is homelessness. 

Flood proposed that many of the problems associated with homelessness stem from alcohol and substance abuse. He proposed strengthening addiction treatment programs and mental health services. 

“Unfortunately, addiction is rampant throughout the homeless community and possibly the reason why they are homeless,” the Assembly candidate said. “We need to do a better job finding resources to adequately treat people.”

Englebright approached the subject of homelessness through the lens of planning. According to him, this requires offering a coherent vision for the Port Jefferson Station area, much of that concentrated around managing the Lawrence Aviation property, followed by investment.

“That would make it possible for us to accelerate the investment into Port Jefferson Station itself,” he said. “We hear a lot of talk about transit-oriented development, and this is the appropriate place for that policy to be fully fleshed out.”

Johnson supported a “great investment into mental health” to ensure people experiencing homelessness receive the necessary tools to get off the streets. He also said the issue is tied to the affordability and housing crises on Long Island. 

“We do not have proper affordable housing, and we do not have proper workforce housing on Long Island,” the state Senate candidate said. “I’m going to make sure that we do everything that we can to bring home the funds so that we are investing in housing projects, while investing in our critical infrastructure, our public transportation, our roads to make sure that we are keeping up with the flux of people coming into our community.”

Palumbo discussed homelessness as a multifaceted issue, requiring changes in affordable housing, enforcement practices and mental health services.

“I think, generally, Long Island is unaffordable,” he said. “We need to lower the cost of living on Long Island, make it all more affordable, and most importantly do what we can to deal with an affordable housing crisis.”

Concluding remarks

During their closing statements, the candidates were asked to provide their two highest legislative priorities that would also affect Port Jefferson Station/Terryville residents.

Johnson stated his two highest priorities would be affordability and infrastructure improvements. “We need to make sure that we are putting money back in the pockets of everyday people,” he said. “And I’m going to make sure that we do that, and we’re going to make sure that we are investing in our roads and infrastructure.”

Palumbo said his two highest priorities are closely linked to one another. He first hopes to alleviate the burden of high taxes and the unaffordable cost of living on Long Island, then tackle rising crime rates.

“I think other things will fall in place if we get control of the crime issue,” the state senator said. “Coupling that with affordability … we’re losing people for a number of reasons in New York, and we shouldn’t be losing anyone.” He added, “We’re an amazing state, and we need to do what we can to save it.”

Though he did not identify the two highest priority issues, Flood highlighted several matters he would like to remediate if elected. Among these are rising crime, bail reform and better state budgeting.

“I see firsthand some of the effects the state has put into place in terms of bail reform,” Flood said. “They’ve added extra hardships to prosecutors and those in criminal justice, and you see it in an increase of crime, in the inability of a district attorney to bring cases forward, and in that, you have local governments who are handcuffed in trying to comply with a lot of these laws.”

For Englebright, his two highest priorities are the electrification of the Port Jefferson line and better community planning. The assemblyman foresees many positive effects if the existing railyard relocates to the Lawrence Aviation property.

“This is, after all, Port Jefferson Station,” he said. “Our station area should be enhanced, and the plan that we put forward for that should not just be something that looks like South Brooklyn. It should look like a vision of what this community should look like when it looks itself in the mirror.” He concluded, “It should be a place of pride. I believe it should be a public park.”

File photo by Victoria Espinoza
By Aidan Johnson

Suffolk County Police Department’s 6th Precinct held its monthly community meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 9, at the precinct’s headquarters in Selden, addressing a number of pressing public safety concerns. 

The meeting was hosted by Deputy Inspector Eric D’Agostino, who discussed the crime statistics of the towns within the 6th Precinct during the month of July.

A total of 597 crimes were reported to the precinct in July, a 2.2% increase from the 584 crimes reported in July of 2021. The crimes included one homicide, three robberies, nine aggravated assaults, 10 grand larceny autos and 14 burglaries.

The community meeting also touched upon the alarming new crime trend of catalytic converter theft from cars, specifically Honda CRVs, Honda Accords and Ford trucks. These incidents have taken place in all Suffolk police precincts and have occurred at residential and commercial locations.

Additionally, single vehicles and large commercial fleets have both been targeted. These crimes currently include multiple persons of interest. [To read more about this crime phenomenon, see TBR News Media story, “Catalytic converter theft on the rise in Suffolk County,” Feb. 24 this year.]

In July, three robberies were reported to the 6th Precinct, two of which occurred in Miller Place, the other in Setauket. There were also two trigger pulls last month, but nobody was shot. This figure represents a drop from the five reported pulled triggers and six shot during July of last year.

The police department is also investigating a series of 15 burglaries at gas stations throughout the county. Most incidents captured a man in a Dodge Caravan pulling up to the establishments, and he was arrested.

D’Agostino also discussed the Multi-agency ATV Task Force. Last month, 11 ATVs were impounded, bringing the year-to-date total up to 39, and 15 ATV summonses were issued, bringing the annual-to-date total up to 56.

There were 30 drug overdoses in July, with only one fatality. Of the overdoses, 22 were by men, and eight by women. This was a slight decrease from last July, when there were 34 drug overdoses, with one fatality.

From June 30 to July 29, there were 10 vehicles stolen, five of which were recovered while the other five remain missing. D’Agostino reminded community members to never leave their key fobs in unlocked cars, along with anything that can be perceived to be valuable.

He suggested keeping cars in garages if possible, or parking them in well-lit areas to deter thieves from trying to steal the catalytic converters. In order to protect homes, he recommended putting out alarm signs, installing floodlights and making sure that all doors are locked.

The following incidents have been reported by Suffolk County Police:

Centereach

■ Walgreens on Middle Country Road in Centereach reported a shoplifter on June 16. A woman allegedly stole miscellaneous cleaning items valued at approximately $50. When a store employee attempted to stop her, the woman threw detergent in the employee’s eyes before fleeing the scene.

Commack

Walmart on Crooked Hill Road in Commack reported a shoplifter on June 18. A man allegedly stole a basketball hoop valued at $180.

Dix Hills

■ A car was reported stolen from the driveway of a residence on Burnham Lane in Dix Hills on June 14. The vehicle, a 2013 Mercedes Benz CLS 550, was worth $30,000.

East Setauket

■ Walmart on Nesconset Highway in East Setauket reported a shoplifter on June 15. A woman allegedly stole 22 items of clothing, assorted jewelry, beauty items and household items valued at $550.

Hauppauge

■ Clean Globe Environmental on Cain Drive in Hauppauge reported that someone stole a catalytic convertor off their company vehicle, a 2015 Ford F-250, on June 17. The item was worth $900.

Huntington Station

■ Ulta Beauty on Walt Whitman Road in Huntington called the police on June 13 to report that a man allegedly stole assorted fragrance gift sets valued at $428.

Lake Grove

■ AT&T Store at the Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove reported that a man entered the store on June 18 and allegedly cut the wire off of the store’s model iPhone 13 Pro Max and fled. The cell phone was valued at $1100.

■ Macy’s at the Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove called the police on June 17 to report that three men allegedly stole 35 items of men’s clothing worth $3043. Security followed the men outside and recovered the stolen items.

Melville

■ Dick’s Sporting Goods on Walt Whitman Road in Melville called the police on June 16 to report that two men allegedly stole $640 worth of miscellaneous clothing.

Port Jefferson Station

■ A resident on Ontario Street in Port Jefferson Station reported that someone broke the rear passenger side window of her car on June 12 and stole a purse containing credit cards and cash.

St. James

■ A resident on Howell Drive in St. James reported that someone broke the passenger front side window of her car and stole a makeup bag on June 18. Cash was stolen from a vehicle parked on Arthur Drive in St. James on the same day.

Selden

■ Walgreens on Middle Country Road in Selden reported a shoplifter on June 18. A man allegedly entered the store, filled his reusable shopping bag with store merchandise and left without paying. The items were valued at $144.

■ Bob’s Stores on Middle Country Road in Selden called the police on June 15 to report that three women allegedly stole assorting clothing valued at approximately $500.

■ A petit larceny was reported at Home Depot on Middle Country Road in Selden on June 13. A man and a woman allegedly stole copper wire valued at $980.

Setauket

■ A resident on Lemark Court in Setauket called the police on June 17 to report that someone had entered his unlocked vehicle parked in the driveway and removed a wallet containing credit cards and cash.

■ A resident on Cinderella Lane in Setauket reported that someone entered his unlocked vehicle parked in the driveway on June 17 and stole a wallet containing credit cards which were later attempted to be used at a few local businesses.

Smithtown

■ Stop & Shop on Main Street in Smithtown reported a shoplifter on June 13. A woman allegedly tried to steal a shopping cart full of assorted grocery items valued at $1018. When confronted by security, she left the shopping cart on the sidewalk and fled.

South Setauket

■ A petit larceny was reported at Home Depot on Pond Path in South Setauket on June 13. A man allegedly stole a spool of electrical wire worth $659.

Stony Brook

■ A resident on Millstream Lane in Stony Brook reported that someone entered his unlocked vehicle on June 18 and stole his wallet containing credit cards. The suspect attempted to use the credit cards shortly after but they were declined.

■ A car was reported stolen on Shadetree Lane in Stony Brook on June 12. The key fob had been left in the center console. The vehicle, a 2022 Acura MDX, was valued at $50,000.

■ A resident on Sycamore Circle in Stony Brook reported that someone entered his unlocked vehicle parked in the driveway on June 12 and stole a wallet with cash inside. A resident on Saywood Lane in Stony Brook reported a pocketbook stolen from an unlocked vehicle that same day.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about these incidents can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers to submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS.

— COMPILED BY HEIDI SUTTON

The following incidents have been reported by Suffolk County Police:

Centereach

■ Walgreens on Middle Country Road in Centereach reported that a man and a woman allegedly stole laundry detergent worth $375.

Cold Spring Harbor

■ A 2020 Jeep Cherokee was reported stolen from the driveway of a resident on Ridge Road in Cold Spring Harbor on June 9. The key fob had been left in the vehicle. The car was worth approximately $35,000.

■ A resident on Fox Hunt Lane in Cold Spring Harbor reported that his vehicle, a 2015 Chevy Camaro, was stolen from his driveway on June 8. The key had been left in the center console and the car was left unlocked. The vehicle was valued at $18,000.

Commack

■ Walmart on 85 Crooked Hill Road in Commack reported a shoplifter on June 6. A woman allegedly stole $193 worth of assorted household items.

■ Home Depot on Jericho Turnpike in Commack called the police on June 7 to report that a man allegedly stole a roll of landscaping wire, a Wyze doorbell, a coaxial cable and a Ring doorbell battery pack. The total value of the items was approximately $650.

■ A gang box was broken into at a building under construction on Hauppauge Road in Commack on June 8 and a Hydroguard brass mixing valve worth $3,000 was stolen.

■ A resident on Grace Park Drive in Commack reported that someone entered his unlocked vehicle on June 11 and stole his wallet containing cash and credit cards.

East Setauket

■ Walmart on Nesconset Highway in East Setauket reported a shoplifter on June 7. A person allegedly stole an air conditioner worth $216.

Huntington

■ A 2013 Infiniti worth $10,000 was reported stolen from a driveway on Old Town Lane in Huntington on June 7.

Huntington Station

■ Macy’s on Walt Whitman Road in Huntington reported a petit larceny on June 9. Two women allegedly stole assorted clothing valued at $700.

Melville

■ A resident on Louis Drive in Melville reported on June 9 that he left his 2020 Land Rover Range Rover running in his driveway unattended. An unknown person walking by got into the car and drove away. The vehicle was valued at $40,000.

Miller Place

■ A resident on Jonah Road in Miller Place reported that a dirt bike, 1999 Honda CR50 was stolen from a backyard shed on June 7. The dirt bike, valued at $900, was later recovered from a nearby wooded area.

Mount Sinai

■ A resident on Maureen Drive in Mount Sinai reported that someone entered his vehicle on June 6 and stole assorted golf clubs and equipment.

■ A resident on Ross Lane in Mount Sinai called the police on June 7 to report that someone had entered his unlocked vehicle parked in the driveway and stole a laptop, backpack, wallet and cash. Items were also stolen from a vehicle parked on Quail Run the same day.

Selden

■ Hope Lutheran Church on Dare Road in Selden reported the theft of a bench worth $200 from the church garden on June 8. 

■ BP Gas Station on Middle Country Road in Selden was the victim of a burglary on June 8. An unknown man allegedly broke the front glass door to gain entry and stole 60 packs of Newport cigarettes valued at $750 and assorted lottery scratch-off tickets worth $250.

■ Home Depot on Middle Country Road in Selden reported a shoplifter on June 11. A man allegedly stole a DeWalt table saw worth $650.

Shoreham

■ Multiple residents on Michelle Drive, Woodville Road and Tagliabue Road reported that their unlocked vehicles were entered on June 6 and 7 and items and cash were stolen.

South Setauket

■ Target on Pond Path in South Setauket reporter a shoplifter on June 10. A man allegedly stole a Haier Air Conditioner valued at $180.

■ A shoplifter was reported at Home Depot on Pond Path in South Setauket on June 7. A man allegedly stole a LG Air Conditioner valued at $459.

Stony Brook

■ A resident on Midfield Street in Stony Brook reported the theft of a 120 gallon propane tank from his backyard on June 8. The tank was valued at $300.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about these incidents can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers to submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS.

— COMPILED BY HEIDI SUTTON

The following incidents have been reported by Suffolk County Police:

Centereach

■ A resident on Oxhead Road in Centereach reported that someone cut battery cables and removed a battery from his car on May 7.

■ Walgreens on Middle Country Road in Centereach reported a shoplifter on May 9. A man allegedly stole three cases of beer valued at $53.

Commack

■ Marshall’s on Henry Street in Commack reported that two women allegedly stole 20 assorted children’s clothing worth approximately $250 on May 13.

Hauppauge

■ A resident on Cardinal Lane in Hauppauge reported that someone entered his unlocked vehicle on May 9 and removed a wallet containing cash, credit cards and a drivers license. A Ring camera captured three unknown men around the car.

■ Copper piping worth approximately $2,000 was stolen from a construction site on Motor Parkway in Hauppauge on May 12.

Huntington Station.

■ Target on East Jericho Turnpike in Huntington Station reported a shoplifter on May 9. A man allegedly stole a Westinghouse TV worth $270 and an air fryer worth $120.

■ Target on East Jericho Turnpike in Huntington Station called the police on May 11 to report a shoplifter. A woman went to pay at the self checkout register and allegedly paid for some clothing items but not for others. The stolen merchandise was valued at approximately $100.

■ Ulta Beauty on Walt Whitman Road in Huntington Station called the police on May 10 to report that an unknown person allegedly stole 17 fragrances valued at $1628.

Lake Grove

■ Barnes & Noble at the Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove reported a shoplifter on May 13. A man allegedly place 7 CDs in a tote bag and walked out of the store without paying for them. The merchandise was valued at $90.

■ Macy’s at the Smith Haven Mall called the police on May 14 to report a petit larceny. A man and a woman allegedly stole a Michael Kors backpack worth $498, a Michael Kors handbag worth $328 and a Rhea zip backpack valued at $155. They concealed the merchandise in a baby stroller and walked out without paying.

Melville

■ Dick’s Sporting Goods on Walt Whitman Road in Melville reported a grand larceny on May 11. Four women entered the store and allegedly stole assorted Nike clothing worth $1260. 

■ Mystique Boutique on Walt Whitman Road in Melville reported a petit larceny on May 13. Two women entered the store, grabbed five items of clothing and fled in a getaway car driven by a man. The merchandise was valued at approximately $300.

■ A woman called the police from Costco on Broadhollow Road in Melville on May 12 to report that someone stole her purse containing cash and credit cards from the passenger seat of her car while she was unloading groceries in the trunk.

Mount Sinai

■ A resident on Gotham Court in Mount Sinai reported that his car was stolen from the driveway on May 9. The unlocked vehicle, a 2021 BMW X7 M series, was worth $120,000. The owner stated that the key fob may have been inside a jacket pocket left in the vehicle.

■ A woman reported that her purse containing cash and credit cards was stolen from her unlocked vehicle while she was at Cedar Beach on Harbor Beach Road in Mount Sinai on May 10.

Port Jefferson

■ An employee at East End Shirt Company on Mill Creek Road in Port Jefferson Village called the police on May 9 to report that two people snatched two sweatshirts from a rack outside the store and headed toward Main Street. When confronted, they threw the sweatshirts at the employee and walked away.

Port Jefferson Station

■ A resident on Junard Blvd. in Port Jefferson Station reported that someone entered his unlocked vehicle on May 8 and stole numerous tools including power drills valued at approximately $1,000.

■ A box truck parked on Echo Lane in Port Jefferson Station was broken into on May 13. 25 boxes of assorted Pepperidge Farm cookies valued at $900 were stolen.

Rocky Point

■ Kohl’s on Route 25A in Rocky Point reported a shoplifter on May 8. A man allegedly stole 7 pairs of Timberland boots valued at $1,125.

South Setauket

■ Target on Pond Path in South Setauket reported a petit larceny on May 9. A man allegedly stole a Graco baby car seat worth $220.

Stony Brook

■ A shoplifter was reported at Lowe’s on Nesconset Highway in Stony Brook on May 11. A man allegedly loaded a cart with Romex copper wire valued at $1497 and walked out the garden center entrance without paying.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about these incidents can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers to submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS

— COMPILED BY HEIDI SUTTON

 

The following incidents have been reported by the Suffolk County Police:

Commack

■Ulta Beauty on Veterans Memorial Highway in Commack reported a grand larceny on April 1. Two men allegedly stole 30 assorted bottles of perfume valued at $5,394.

■Home Depot on Crooked Hill Road in Commack reported a shoplifter on April 2. A man allegedly stole a chop saw, circular saw, sawmill and a HP air compressor. The merchandise was valued at $815.

■Home Depot on Jericho Turnpike in Commack called the police on March 28 to report that two men allegedly walked out of the store with two ECHO chainsaws worth $780 without paying for them.

■Target on Veterans Memorial Highway in Commack was the victim of a pattern storewide gift card scam on March 29. A person pretending to be from corporate called and requested that gift cards be loaded in the amount of $5,200.

East Northport

■Walgreens on Fort Salonga Road in East Northport reported shoplifters on March 30. Two men allegedly stole assorted Crest whitening products valued at $732.

East Setauket

■Walmart on Nesconset Highway in East Setauket called the police on March 30 to report that a man allegedly stole a Goodyear compressor worth $180 and a Hyper Tough toolkit worth $178.

Farmingville

■Burlington Store on North Ocean Avenue in Farmingville reported a shoplifter on March 29. A woman allegedly stole assorted baby clothing worth approximately $250.

Greenlawn

■A resident on Depew Street in Greenlawn reported that his  1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee was stolen on March 28. The vehicle was valued at $3,000.

Huntington Station

■Petco on New York Avenue in Huntington Station reported a shoplifter on March 27. A man allegedly stole a 30 pound bag of Merrick dog food worth $65.

■Ulta Beauty on Walt Whitman Road in Huntington Station reported a grand larceny on March 30. Three men allegedly stole assorted fragrances and other items worth $9,200.

Kings Park

■ A resident on Columbine Lane in Kings Park called the police on March 30 to report that his car was stolen from his driveway on March 20. The vehicle was valued at $45,000.

■A 2019 Kia Stinger worth $35,000 along with a laptop and cell phone inside was stolen from a residence on Jasmine Lane in Kings Park on March 31.

■A purse containing cash and credit cards was reported stolen from an unlocked vehicle in front of a residence on Columbine Lane in Kings Park on March 30.

Lake Grove

■Retail store Charlotte Russe at the Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove reported a petit larceny on April 1. A man and a woman allegedly stole merchandise valued at $90.

■Macy’s at the Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove called the police on March 28 to report that a man allegedly opened an unoccupied cash register and stole $830 while three other men served as lookouts.

■IHOP on Alexander Avenue in Lake Grove was burglarized on March 29. An unknown person threw a brick through the front window to gain access and removed the cash drawer from the register.

■Macy’s at the Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove reported a shoplifter on March 29. A man allegedly stole assorted men’s Polo clothing worth $3583.

Melville

■Roast Sandwich House on Walt Whitman Road in Melville  was burglarized on April 1. Someone pried open the side door and stole cash from the register.

Mount Sinai

■Old Coach Motors on Route 25A in Mount Sinai reported a grand larceny on March 27. Someone stole a 2022 Alpha Cargo enclosed trailer worth $6200.

Nesconset

■Giorgio’s Pizzeria on Smithtown Blvd. in Nesconset reported a burglary on April 2. An unknown man threw a brick through the front door around 1 a.m. and stole cash.

■Costco on Middle Country Road in Nesconset reported a shoplifter on March 27. A man allegedly stole a yellow and yellow SE Fat Ripper bicycle valued at $900.

Rocky Point

■A resident on Locust Drive in Rocky Point reported that someone entered his unlocked vehicle on March 31 and removed a camera lens and loose change.

■A resident on Xyris Road in Rocky Point called the police on March 31 to report that someone broke into his car and stole his phone, credit cards, gift cards, license and other important documents.

Port Jefferson

■A 2021 Ram TRX commercial vehicle was stolen from a residence on Old Homestead Road in Port Jefferson on March 30. The vehicle was worth $135,000.

Port Jefferson Station

■ShopRite on Nesconset Highway in Port Jefferson Station reported a shoplifter on March 29. A man allegedly stole 9 assorted packages of seafood valued at approximately $200.

■Wing Wah Kitchen on Old Town Road in Port Jefferson Station reported a burglary on April 1. Someone broke the glass door with a rock to gain entry and stole cash.

St. James

■St. James Chinese Kitchen on Lake Avenue in St. James reported a burglary on March 31. Someone threw a large rock at the front glass door to gain entry and stole a cash register containing cash.

Smithtown

■Figaris’s Wine and Liquor on East Main Street in Smithtown reported that a man entered the store on April 2, took two bottles of Bacardi Rum off of the shelf and left without paying. The liquor was valued at $40.

■A resident on Jillit Drive in Smithtown reported the theft of a 2013 Kia Optima on April 1. The unlocked vehicle had been parked in the street with the keys inside.

Sound Beach

■A resident on Westbury Drive in Sound Beach reported that someone entered their vehicle on March 30 and stole a wallet containing cash.

■A resident on Floral Drive in Sound Beach reported that someone stole loose change from their unlocked vehicle on March 31.

■A purse, credit cards and ID were stolen from an unlocked vehicle on Brookhaven Drive in Sound Beach on March 31 by an unknown man.

South Setauket

■Home Depot on Pond Path in South Setauket reported a shoplifter on March 31. A man allegedly stole six spools of copper wire worth $2059.

Stony Brook

■A resident on Bailey Hollow Road in Stony Brook called the police on March 30 to report that someone walked up to their four vehicles and stole items from the one unlocked car. The incident was captured on the home’s ring camera.

■Lowes on Nesconset Highway in Stony Brook reported a shoplifter on April 1. A woman allegedly stole three 500 foot AWG stranded commercial electric wiring The merchandise was valued at approximately $450

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about these incidents can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers to submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS.

— COMPILED BY HEIDI SUTTON

 

The following incidents have been reported by the Suffolk County Police:

Centereach

■ A 2019 Dodge Ram 1500 worth approximately $30,000 was stolen from the front of a residence on Ruland Road in Centereach on March 23.

■ Walmart on Middle Country Road in Centereach reported a shoplifter on March 22. A man allegedly stole basketball gaming cards worth approximately $300.

Commack

■ Walmart on Crooked Hill Road in Commack reported a shoplifter on March 23. A man allegedly stole an LG Soundbar worth $129.

■ Home Depot on Crooked Hill Road in Commack reported that a man allegedly stole 8 items of 250” electrical wire and other items worth $1320 on March 25.

■ Walmart on Crooked Hill Road in Commack on March 25 called the police to report a shoplifter. A man allegedly stole an iRobot vacuum worth $219 and a Samsung stick vacuum worth $199.

■ Famous Footwear on Jericho Turnpike in Commack reported a shoplifter on March 21. A woman allegedly stole 4 pairs of Nike sneakers and assorted merchandise valued at over $400.

Farmingville

■ The Burlington Store on North Ocean Avenue in Farmingville reported a shoplifter on March 24. A woman allegedly stole 26 pieces of assorted clothing, a handbag and toys. The merchandise was valued at approximately $340.

Hauppauge

■ A resident on Devonshire Road in Hauppauge called the police after an Amazon package that was reported delivered was not found by the homeowner. A porch pirate was suspected.

Huntington Station

■ A man allegedly stole three Ember Mugs from a Target on East Jericho Turnpike in Huntington Station on March 25. The total value of the merchandise was $429.

■ Target on East Jericho Turnpike in Huntington Station reported a shoplifter on March 22. A man allegedly put 7 massage guns worth $1134 in a duffel bag and walked out of the store without paying.

■ Ulta Beauty on Walt Whitman Road in Huntington Station called the police on March 24 to report that two men entered the store, allegedly placed 92 perfume bottles in bags, and fled. The merchandise was valued at over $9000.

■ Gucci on Walt Whitman Road in Huntington Station reported a shoplifter on March 21. A woman allegedly took a Padlock Gucci bag off of the shelf, put it under her jacked and walked out of the store without paying. The handbag was valued at $1950.

Kings Park

■ A resident on Springmeadow Road in Kings Park reported that two men stole his unlocked vehicle, a 2013 BMW 328i worth $15,000, on March 25. The keys had been left inside the vehicle.

Lake Grove

■ Ulta Beauty on Middle Country Road in Lake Grove reported a grand larceny on March 25. Two men allegedly stole assorted fragrances worth $1500.

■ The Perfume Spot, a kiosk at the Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove, reported the theft of 5 Creed fragrances on March 21. The perfumes were valued at $2175.

Miller Place

■ An unknown person broke into and stole items from at least five vehicles in the Miller Place and Mt. Sinai areas between March 26 and March 27. Most of the incidents took place between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m.

Mount Sinai

■ A woman visiting Heritage Park on Mount Sinai Coram Road in Mount Sinai called the police on March 25 after returning to her car and noticing that her purse was missing. Her vehicle had been unlocked.

Port Jefferson Station

■ Asphalt Supply on LI on Comsewogue Road in Port Jefferson Station was the victim of a grand larceny on March 23. Video captured a man stealing a S650 Bobcat loader worth $60,000 from the yard.

Rocky Point

■ The police were called to Kohls on Route 25A in Rocky Point after a man and a woman allegedly stole assorted clothing worth $1044 on March 21.

■ A resident on Laurel Road in Rocky Point reported that someone stole an iPhone and a wallet containing credit cards from his unlocked car in the driveway on March 18.

Selden

■ Target on Middle Country in Selden called the police on March 22 to report that a man allegedly stole a stand mixer worth $380 and a coffeemaker worth $190.

■ Target on Middle Country Road in Selden reported a shoplifter on March 24. A man allegedly stole a KitchenAid worth $380, a Keurig worth $130 and a microwave valued at $80.

■ Home Depot on Middle Country Road in Selden reported a shoplifter on March 21. A man allegedly stole a Milwaukee chainsaw worth $269.

South Setauket

■ Home Depot on Pond Path in South Setauket reported a petit larceny on March 25. A man allegedly stole three assorted tools valued at $950.

Stony Brook

■ Lowes on Nesconset Highway in Stony Brook called the police on March 26 to report the theft of merchandise. A man allegedly stole a Bosch Laser Level worth $650, 3 Lithium Ion power tool batteries worth $510 and a Metabo power tool combo kit worth $300.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about these incidents can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers to submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS.

— COMPILED BY HEIDI SUTTON