Sting Recovers Stolen Dirt Bike, Cops Say
/By Jano Tantongco
jtantongco@longislandergroup.com
On Sunday, Suffolk police arrested a 25-year-old Central Islip man for allegedly stealing a dirt bike from an Elwood residence on March 22.
In further attempts to crack down on thefts of dirt bikes and all-terrain vehicles, Suffolk County Police Second Squad detectives and Third Precinct officers recently executed a controlled buy of a dirt bike reportedly stolen from an Elwood residence on March 22.
The 2004 Honda CR125R dirt bike was one of two vehicles stolen from the Broadway home, police said. A 2007 Yamaha quad was also reportedly stolen.
The alleged thief took the bike by entering a window of the home’s garage where the bikes were kept, according to police.
Second Squad Det. Sgt. Michael Flanagan said Tuesday that the owner of dirt bike saw his Honda listed for sale on social media. Second Squad detectives then set up the controlled buy, which occurred at Apricot Street and Route 111 in Central Islip at around 12 noon on Sunday.
Police said the original owner of the bike met with the seller, 25-year-old DeJohn Hall, of Central Islip, to purchase the bike. But, police were also waiting for Hall, and he was arrested when he arrived.
Hall was arraigned on Monday and charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property.
Police said the theft is still being investigated. The other vehicle stolen in the initial incident, the 2007 Yamaha, was not recovered, according to police.
Flanagan advised residents to lock sheds where such vehicles may be stored in order to safeguard against would-be thieves.
“They’ll set their burglar alarms at night, but they leave their car doors open. The perpetrators can go up to the car door and hit the garage door openers that are in the car,” Flanagan added. “The garage doors go up, and, of course the ATVs are in the garage.”
Meanwhile, a rash of motor bike thefts have recently been reported across East Northport and Fort Salonga.
Police said that an unknown person allegedly stole a blue Yamaha ATV from a residence on Franklin Avenue in East Northport at around 2:27 a.m. on June 29.
An unknown person cut locks on a wooden shed and stole a 2013 Suzuki quad at 7th Street in East Northport at around 3 p.m. on June 30.
An unknown person allegedly stole a 2011 Honda TRX quad from a home on Amanda Court in Fort Salonga at around 12:01 a.m. on July 1.
Police said that an unknown person allegedly stole two Honda CRF dirt bikes at around 1 a.m. on July 1 on 5th Avenue in East Northport.
Flanagan said investigations into each of the reported thefts are ongoing, adding to the growing “uptick” in such thefts.
Last month, Second Squad detectives also arrested a 17-year-old from Huntington Station for allegedly possessing stolen motor bikes. Further investigation led to the recovery of five vehicles, a mix of ATVs and dirt bikes.
