By Jeff Lipton
Detectives investigating the burglary, at 909 Central Ave., stumbled on a large stash of marijuana plants and a plant-growing lab, officials said.
Police arrested the homeowner, Wayne A. Shure, 41, and charged him with first-degree criminal possession of marijuana, according to Fourth Squad Detective Stephen Firestone.
The squad's detectives said that Stacey Clifton, 23, of 221st Street in Cambria Heights, Queens, was employed as a maid for Shure, and, with the help of three men, plotted the burglary of her employer's home.
At about 12:30 p.m. on Aug. 19, two of the men entered the front door of the home and allegedly tied up the maid, making it look like she was not part of the scheme, and left with black garbage bags filled with items from the home, police said.
"It looks as though the maid let them in and made it look as though she were not a part of it," said one police official. "She was apparently in cahoots with them, but she had to make it look like a burglary, so she says they tied her up."
The men left in a black four-door vehicle driven by an accomplice, detectives said.
When police were called to the home to investigate a report of a break-in, Clifton said she had been tied up by the intruders, detectives said. After checking out her story and determining that she was part of the plot, police arrested her and charged her with second-degree burglary, officials said.
While investigating the crime, detectives obtained the consent of the homeowner to enter his garage and apartment, where they discovered the marijuana plants and the growing lab, authorities said. Detectives arrested Shure and took him to the Fourth Precinct station house, where he was officially charged with marijuana possession, police said.
Detective Sgt. John Azzata of the Fourth Squad said police found about 10 pounds of marijuana and a hydroponic lab, which is used to grow the plant. The growing operation had been in place for at least a year, Azzata said. Asked if he believed the marijuana was for Shure's personal consumption, Azzata responded, "It certainly was not for his personal use. I don't know if he was selling it, but 10 pounds is an awful lot for personal use."
Both Shure and Clifton were arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead on Saturday, officials said.
Neighbors and business owners on Central Avenue in Woodmere said they were stunned after hearing about the incident. They said they had no clue that marijuana was allegedly being grown by one of their neighbors. "I had absolutely no idea," said one storekeeper, who did not want to be identified. "I'm shocked this has happened here. I'm surprised about the first incident [the burglary] and I'm surprised about the second incident [the marijuana plants]. It's just a strange happening.
"I'm shocked anybody would do it," she said of the alleged marijuana cultivation.
"I saw the police cars over here on Friday, but I had no idea this was going on," said a neighbor, who also declined to be identified. "Sure, this type of thing is very surprising."
Shure could not be reached for comment.
Police are still searching for the three men who allegedly assisted Clifton. Two of them were described as black men in their mid-20s, about 6 feet tall. One was wearing black clothes and the other a white T-shirt and blue jeans shorts. The driver was described as a white or Hispanic man with black hair, wearing a white T-shirt, police said. Detectives ask anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous, police said.
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