Crimes Nearby: Phone Scam Claims a Victim; Hit-and-Run Driver Sought

MT. SINAI

A Mt. Sinai resident has fallen victim to the phone scam about which Suffolk police recently warned residents. According to a police report, an unknown male called the victim at approximately 11 a.m. on March 27 claiming to threaten a family member with harm if the victim did not immediately wire money. The victim, a woman, complied with the request by sending an undisclosed amount of money at King Kullen. Three other Mt. Sinai residents reported receiving similar phone calls but did not comply.

Suffolk police recently issued a statement warning people of the scam. Police said approximately 70 reports of similar telephone calls have been reported over the past five months, and believe that dozens more have not been reported. Police said the victims are randomly selected and the caller in many cases is able to convince residents the scenario is real.

COMMACK

Suffolk County police are asking for the public's help in identifying the driver in a hit-and-run crash that injured an elderly woman on March 16 at the intersection of Commack Road and Jericho Turnpike. According to police, the male suspect was driving a pickup truck north on Commack Road when he turned east onto Jericho Turnpike, lost control of the vehicle and struck a 2013 Cadillac driven by an elderly female on Saturday, March 16 at approximately 2:40 p.m. The pickup truck then fled east on Jericho Turnpike, officials said. The victim was treated and released from Huntington Hospital.

The truck is described as maroon, with the words “Tree Service” in yellow on each side of the vehicle. The truck also had a cap covering the rear bed, police said. The truck driver and his male passenger were both wearing neon traffic or construction worker vests. The suspect’s vehicle sustained damage to the front passenger side and a flat front right tire. Officers are asking anyone who may have information about the incident, witnessed the crash when it occurred, or has information on the vehicle involved to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential. Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest.

PORT JEFFERSON

Umit Karamustafa, 37, of Port Jefferson Station, was arrested March 29 in Coram and charged with third-degree grand larceny, a felony. Police said he took money from a register at a gas station in Coram sometime between August of 2013 and March of 2013.

Kimberly Overstreet, 23, of Holbrook, was arrested March 23 and charged with operating a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs, a misdemeanor. Police said she was intoxicated after they pulled her over as she was driving westbound on North Country Road in Port Jefferson with a broken headlight and failure to stay in the lane. She was arrested at 9:22 p.m.; she was also arrested earlier that same day in Coram and charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor. Overstreet was also given a second drug possession charge at the sixth precinct.

SMITHTOWN

Police arrested a Coram woman on multiple charges after she was allegedly found in possession of stolen property and drugs. According to police, Gwendolyn Hardy, 29, of Coram, was arrested on March 30 in Smithtown on three charges of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor, and one charge of fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, a misdemeanor. Police said Hardy, who was in a 2013 Ford Explorer, was in possession of stolen property, as well as heroin, cocaine, marijuana and prescription medication.

KINGS PARK

Suffolk County police said someone broke into the Smithtown Sanitation building in Kings Park on March 23 and took used car batteries from the property. According to police, a Smithtown Park Ranger called in the incident, stating that the alleged perpetrator cut a chain-link fence to get into the property, located at 85 Northport Rd. Once inside, the suspect was said to have removed several used car batteries from the site. No arrests have been made.