Security camera images courtesy of the East Hampton Town Police Department.
By Stephen J. Kotz
Using images captured from security cameras, East Hampton Town Police are asking the public for help in finding and arresting the suspect in a string of burglaries of East Hampton businesses early Saturday, November 29.
In each case, the burglar used a brick or stone to smash glass doors to gain entry into six businesses in both East Hampton and Wainscott.
Police said the burglar carted away a cash register and cash box from two of the stores, and got away with at least $1,245 in cash and coins.
Police said the suspect is a white male. In the images, he is wearing what appears to be an olive colored hooded sweatshirt or jacket, jeans and dark work boots.
He can be seen grabbing a cash box from behind the counter of one of the stores that was burglarized. Police have also released a grainy image of a light colored, possibly white, pickup truck they believe the burglar was driving.
The burglaries were reported at Domaine Franey Wines and Spirits on Pantigo Road in East Hampton, where a brick was used to break the glass front door, although nothing appeared to be stolen from the business. Nearby, the glass front door of Chiquita Latina, also on Pantigo Road, was shattered by a brick and thieves made off with a cash register containing $130. They estimated it would cost $500 to replace the door. The same fate awaited Calvo’s Deli nearby. There, a $300 glass door was broken and some $700 in cash was removed.
In Wainscott, bricks or paving stones were used to smash through the glass doors at three businesses on Montauk Highway. At Twice Upon a Bagel, the damaged door was the only apparent damage. La Capannina pizzeria suffered a similar fate, with nothing taken. But at Wainscott Wines and Spirits, a black metal cash drawer containing $415 was grabbed.
Police said the suspect was seen fleeing in a westerly direction out of Wainscott.
Although similar burglaries occurred at Nichol’s restaurant in East Hampton Village and LaFondita in Amagansett last summer, Captain Chris Anderson said, “Nothing has been linked, but we’ll certainly look to explore the possibility.”
Police have asked anyone with information to contact them at (631) 537-7575. All calls will be kept confidential.
The suspect fleeing the scene on November 30.
The suspect’s vehicle was spotted in Wainscott traveling west on Montauk Highway
