Police: Homeless man charged in connection to string of larcenies

Posted

Police reported the arrest of a homeless man in connection to a spree of larcenies at various local drug stores and supermarkets including, most recently, at the Stop & Shop on Atlantic Avenue in Oceanside.

Andre Christmas, 49, who police reported is homeless, was seen on June 5 leaving the supermarket at 2:35 p.m. carrying an unknown amount of merchandise that he allegedly did not pay for, and then fled the scene in a taxi cab.

Officers reported that they stopped the cab at the intersection of Evergreen Avenue and Henry Street after observing Christmas in the back seat of the car, carrying the stolen items. Christmas was then arrested without incident, police said. The driver was reportedly unaware that his passenger had not paid for the items.

Upon his arrest, detectives said they discovered that Christmas had been responsible for 15 separate instances of stealing — from December to June — at various Rite Aids and Stop and Shops including:

•On Dec. 27, 2017 at the Rite Aid on Long Beach Road in Oceanside.

•On April 21 at the Stop & Shop on Atlantic Avenue in Oceanside.

•On April 24 at the Rite Aid on Long Beach Road in Oceanside.

•On April 24 at the Stop & Shop on Old Country Road in Carle Place.

•On April 27 at the Rite Aid on Hempstead Turnpike in Levittown.

•On May 15 at the Rite Aid on Long Beach Road in Oceanside.

•On May 18 at the Rite Aid on New Hyde Park Road in Franklin Square.

•On May 20 at the Rite Aid on New Hyde Park Road in Franklin Square.

•On May 26, 2018 at the Rite Aid on Hempstead Turnpike in Elmont.

•On May 27 at the Stop & Shop on Atlantic Avenue in Oceanside.

•On May 30 at the Rite Aid on New Hyde Park Road in Franklin Square.

•On May 31 at the Rite Aid on Hempstead Turnpike in Levittown.

•On June 4 at the Rite Aid on Hempstead Turnpike in West Hempstead.

•On June 4 at the Rite Aid on Hempstead Turnpike in West Hempstead.

•On June 5 at the Stop & Shop on Jerusalem Avenue in North Bellmore.

Christmas was charged with third-degree robbery, seven counts of fourth-degree grand larceny and seven counts of petit larceny and theft of services. He was arraigned on June 6 at the First District courthouse in Hempstead.