More flag thefts reported in Riverhead Town

A flag bandit has struck in Riverhead again.

U.S. flags were stolen from the Town of Riverhead Municipal Garage, Lolly’s Hut and M&T Bank, all on Route 58, according to Riverhead Town Police. The thief also made off with a Town of Riverhead flag at the municipal garage, police said.

Flags were reported stolen from flag poles outside the town garage and Lolly’s yesterday morning. The flag outside M&T Bank was reported stolen today, Police Chief David Hegermiller said this afternoon.

This is the second time in two weeks that flags were swiped from flagpoles around Riverhead. The town garage is so far the only location that’s been hit twice.

On June 1, Riverhead Police arrested a 37-year-old homeless man in connection with the thefts of flags at five separate locations in town over the course of the prior few days. Nelson Priester was charged with two counts of grand larceny in the fourth degree, one count of petit larceny, and one count of criminal possession of stolen property in the fifth degree in connection with those incidents, police said in a press release that day. Priester was released on an appearance ticket for a future court date, police said on the day of his arrest. He is due in court for arraignment next week, according to Riverhead Justice Court records, a court clerk said this afternoon.

MORE COVERAGE: Police: Man arrested after string of American flag thefts in Riverhead

Riverhead detectives are investigating the new thefts, Hegermiller said. The flags have not been recovered and no arrest has been made yet, the chief said.

Hegermiller asked that anyone with additional information or who has missing flags contact the Riverhead Police Department at 631-727-4500.

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.