Rockville Centre homeowners: Two of three stolen cars recovered

Last month, three vehicles were stolen from the driveways of two Rockville Centre homes. Two have been recovered, according to the owners, and one is still missing.

A homeowner reported that his 2017 Jeep was gone from his driveway on Berkshire Road on July 19. Three days later, another homeowner reported that two cars — his 2008 BMW and GMC vehicles — were stolen from his driveway on Hempstead Avenue.

Rockville Centre Police Commissioner James Vafedeas had said that, in both cases, there were spare keys uncovered in the unlocked cars.

“Ultimately, the car is often located — usually abandoned somewhere,” Vafeades had said. “…Sometimes [the thieves] use it to just get out of town, or for spare parts.”

Matthew Schwartzberg, owner of the Jeep, told the Herald last week that Nassau County Police used license plate readers to recover his car, which was found about 10 miles from his home near Uniondale the day after it was stolen. He labeled the case “a joy ride.”

Schwartzberg said he just happened to leave his spare key in the unlocked car. “People have been going through cars in Rockville Centre for loose change for years,” he said. “It happened to be that my keys were there. . . .We have to be very careful in making sure our cars are locked at all times.”

The Rockville Centre and Nassau County police department said they had no further information.

Sean Curtis, owner of the other stolen vehicles, told the Herald his BMW was recovered in Brooklyn on Aug. 16 by the New York City Police Department, which also used license plate readers.

He also accidently left his spare keys in his car, but pointed out that his vehicle was not unlocked, but rather had a faulty door. “If you jerk the handle, it could pop open,” Curtis said.

According to him, police found a 17-year-old driving the BMW with three friends. Curtis said the NYPD reported to him that the teenage driver was arrested.

The NYPD did not confirm the arrest, and declined to give any information regarding the incident.

Though his GMC vehicle is still missing, Curtis said, “No one was hurt, cars are replaceable, and that’s the most important thing to me.”

He said he has been receiving mail from E-Z Pass about his stolen vehicle. Curtis mentioned the last ticket he received showed that the culprits were on the Delaware Memorial Bridge.