News

Police: Trio swiped gas station worker’s car in Riverside

State Police arrested three men on car theft charges late Tuesday after a gas station worker flagged down a trooper and told him his car had been swiped from the Valero station in Riverside.

The victim reported that his maroon Mitsubishi Galant, which was parked at the Route 24 station, went missing just before midnight while he was inside the shop there.

The same trooper later spotted the car heading west on Route 25 and stopped it on Marcy Avenue, officials said.

After a brief investigation, the trooper arrested Shineta Robinson, 37, and William Belcher, 45, both of Riverhead, and Samuel Mitchell, 51, of Far Rockaway, who was in the rear seat.  Mr. Mitchell was also found to be in possession of a Garmin GPS, which was taken from the vehicle, police said.

All three were charged with fourth-degree grand larceny, an E felony. Mr. Mitchell was also charged with misdemeanor criminal possession of stolen property.

They were being held for an arraignment in Southampton Town Justice Court.