A Riverhead parolee was charged in three commercial burglaries early Monday morning and his accomplice in those crimes was charged in 15 other burglaries across Suffolk over the past month, including burglaries in Wading River and Jamesport.
Richard Ambrose, 41, of Rocky Point and Travis James, 37, of Riverhead were arrested and charged with three burglaries that occurred early Monday morning at gas stations in Commack, Patchogue and Port Jefferson Station, Suffolk County Police said in a press release last night.
Ambrose and James were charged with Burglary in the Third Degree in connection with burglaries yesterday at:
- Speedway Gas Station, 5087 Jericho Turnpike, Commack, at approximately 1:23 a.m.
- Conoco Gas Station, 626 Medford Ave., Patchogue at approximately 2:30 a.m.
- Speedway Gas Station, 1445 Route 112, Port Jeff Station, at approximately 3 a.m.
James, who was convicted on felony contempt charges in 2013, was paroled in January after spending four years in state prison, N.Y. State Department of Corrections records show.
Ambrose was also charged in 15 other burglaries at various locations between Aug. 8 and 31, police said, including the Aug. 12 burglary of the Valero Gas Station on Route 25A in Wading River. He was also charged with attempted burglary of the American Gas Station in Jamesport on Aug. 12.
Ambrose was charged with Burglary in the Third Degree in the following burglaries, police said:
- Aug. 8, Tease Salon Off Broadway, 662 Route 25A, Rocky Point
- Aug. 10, Broadway Market, 643 Broadway, Rocky Point
- Aug. 15, The Wine Authority, 5507 Nesconset Hwy., Mount Sinai
- Aug. 17, Speedway Gas Station, 2825 Middle Country Rd., Lake Grove
- Aug. 19, Speedway Gas Station, 615 Nesconset Hwy., Smithtown
- Aug. 21, Moody Mart/ Mobil Gas Station, 819 West Jericho Turnpike, Smithtow
- Aug. 26, Pit Stop Pantry, 223 Montauk Hwy., East Moriches
- Aug. 26, Speedway Gas Station, 640 Montauk Hwy., Bayport
- Aug. 27, Onsen Sushi, 597 Montauk Hwy., Oakdale
- Aug. 27, The Fortune Cookie Chinese Food Restaurant, 581 Montauk Hwy., Oakdale
- Aug. 31, BP Gas Station, 5912 Nesconset Hwy., Port Jefferson Station
Ambrose was also charged with Burglary in the Third Degree by the Riverhead, Quogue and Southold Police Departments for the following burglaries:
- Aug. 12, Valero Gas Station 5904 Rt. 25A, Wading River
- Aug. 12, Speedway Gas Station 38 Montauk Highway, Quogue
- Aug. 25, Speedway Gas Station 11100 Main Road, Mattituck
- Aug. 25, Empire Gas Station 7400 main Road, Laurel
He was also charged with Attempted Burglary in the Third Degree for an Aug. 12 incident at American Gas Station, 1429 Main Rd., Jamesport
Ambrose and James are scheduled to be arraigned today at First District Court in Central Islip, police said.
Editor’s note: A criminal charge is an accusation. By law, a person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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