A Riverhead police officer on patrol interrupted thieves in the process of stealing wheels and tires from a Route 58 auto dealership early this morning.
The officer was patrolling slowly past an auto storage lot on Osborn Avenue with his car windows down when he heard a clanging sound in the distance at around 3 a.m. The noise was coming from the Apple Honda lot across the road, where at least two men were removing wheels from new cars on the lot.
“They had the tires off of two cars and were working on the third,” Riverhead Police Chief David Hegermiller said this morning.
Officer Sean Mackie, who responded to the noise at the Honda dealership, called for backup and other patrol units established a perimeter while a K9 unit was called in.
“The K9 unit came in and did a track but could not locate the suspects,” Hegermiller said.
Apple Honda general manager William Fields said he arrived at the dealership at about 3:15 this morning, as is his usual routine.
“I’m an early bird,” Fields said. He is often stopped for questioning by police officers patrolling the area. “They’ve gotten to know my routine,” he said.
This morning, police were at the dealership waiting to deploy the K9 unit when Fields arrived. They asked the GM to remain off premises until after the K9 search was done, so as not to confuse the dog, Fields said. He waited at 7-Eleven.
“We’re still trying to ascertain if they were able to get anything from us,” Fields said. The thieves in a hurry to escape even left behind tools at the scene.
“The crime was in process, but as of right now it seems like it was a crime averted,” he said.
“They were not so fortunate at Eagle Chevrolet,” Hegermiller said. “They got hit too. They must have hit them first,” he said. The chief said he believes the thieves made off with two sets of tires and wheels.
“The police saved us thousands of dollars,” Fields said. “We have a $2,500 deductible for each incident, each separate theft. A wheels and tire package is about $2,600, so it would not be worth filing a claim,” he said — especially since it would negatively impact his company’s experience rating and drive up his premiums. “That’s how insurance works,” Fields said.
Detectives are investigating the incidents, the police chief said.
Fields said he will be reviewing surveillance camera footage recorded over night. “We have some pretty sophisticated new equipment,” he said. “You can really zoom in now.”
Apple Honda just opened an newly constructed showroom. The thieves were removing wheels and tires from new cars parked in the lot to the east of the new two-story building.
“We’re very grateful to Riverhead’s finest,” Fields said.
Hegermiller praised Mackie’s “excellent police work” in foiling the theft-in-progress.
“Patrolling slowly, with the windows down — that’s exactly how it’s supposed to be done,” the chief said. “He’s doing his job out there.”
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