Five people have been arrested over the last several days as a result of investigations into retail theft at 16 stores in Riverhead, according to a Riverhead Police Department press release.
The following people were arrested as a result of the investigation, according to police:
Melissa Kust, 43, of Flanders, on seven counts of Petit Larceny
Andre Carter, 29, of Brooklyn, on one count of Petit Larceny
Nery Pantaleon-Barrios, 21. of Flanders, on one count of Petit Larceny
Hailey Barahona, 20, of Lake Grove, on one count of Petit Larceny
Donald Gonzales, 60, of Medford, on one count of Petit Larceny
Police did not give dates of arrests in their press release, or say from which stores the accused allegedly stole from.
The arrests were made as a part of retail theft larceny investigations by the Crime Control Division and Community Oriented Policing Enforcement (COPE) unit of the police department using undercover officers and store security, police said in the press release.
The department has begun conducting operations with various retail stores “in response to the rise in retail theft” in town, according to the press release. Riverhead Police responded to 52 shoplifting incidents and 10 other larceny incidents in the month of January — roughly a third of all reported criminal incidents in the department’s jurisdiction that month, according to the department’s monthly report to the Town Board. The police arrested people on 28 petit larceny charges and three grand larceny charges in January — a third of all that month’s arrests, according to the data.
The town’s police officials have said in interviews and reports to the Town Board that larcenies at stores on Route 58 and in Tanger Outlets are large contributors to criminal incidents in the town.
Stores that participated in the department’s initiative were Nike, Hollister, TJ Maxx, Marshall’s, HomeSense, Five Below, Target, Old Navy, Sunglass Hut, Abercrombie & Fitch, Hugo Boss, Michael Kors, Victoria Secret, Coach, Polo and Home Goods, according to the press release. Stores who wish to participate in future operations are asked to contact the department’s Crime Control Division at 631-727-4500 ext 274.
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.
The survival of local journalism depends on your support.
We are a small family-owned operation. You rely on us to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible. Just a few dollars can help us continue to bring this important service to our community.
Support RiverheadLOCAL today.
