The Riverhead Police have arrested a man for allegedly stealing a woman’s pocketbook out of her car and falsely identifying himself to the police at the Dunkin Donuts parking lot on Route 58 yesterday afternoon.
Police said Anthony Robinson, 57, who was residing in a Riverhead-area shelter, lied about his identity when questioned by police and stole a pocketbook containing a wallet and credit cards.
Police said an officer was investigating a motor vehicle accident on Roanoke Avenue just south of the Dunkin Donuts parking lot and was notified by a passerby that an unknown male had been looking into parked vehicles.
After being given a description of the man, the officer approached Robinson, who police said fit the description and who was in possession of a woman’s pocketbook, and began to interview him. Police said Robinson initially lied about his identity and was approached during the interview by a woman who claimed to be the owner of the pocketbook. After an investigation, it was determined that the pocketbook and the key fob were left in the woman’s vehicle, allowing Robinson to enter the vehicle and take the pocketbook, police said.
Robinson was arrested, and then processed and held for arraignment. He was charged with criminal possession of stolen property in the third degree, criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree and false personation.
Editor’s note: A criminal charge is an accusation. A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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