Riverhead blotter: Woman loses $2K in eBay car buying scam

An Aquebogue woman told police last Wednesday that she bought a car on eBay March 7 and used a prepaid Visa card to send $2,000 to the seller, according to police, who said the sale turned out to be fraudulent and the woman lost the $2,000. 

The woman attempted to contact the person who placed the ad to get her money back, but the phone number had been changed by then, police said.

The case has been turned over to the Riverhead detective division, police said.

• A Riverhead woman who tried to steal from the 99 cent store on Route 58 was not successful, according to police.

Store security observed Tamara Aiken, 35, address unavailable, putting a comforter set and other items in a bag and attempting to leave the store with them. A security officer stopped her and recovered the items, police said.

Ms. Aiken, meanwhile, escaped and took off in a large white SUV, but a town police officer located her on Raynor Avenue and pulled her over.

The security officer identified her and Ms. Aiken was charged with petit larceny, according to police.

The store also captured her on security cameras, police said.

• A 55-inch Vizio television valued at $686 was reported stolen from Walmart on Route 58 last Thursday night and the suspected thief took off in a white Chevy pickup truck, according to police. The suspect, who was caught on store surveillance cameras, is described as a black man about 40 years old and 5 feet 10 inches tall, wearing jeans, a blue and white hoodie, a white hat and sunglasses, according to police.

• Evelyn Foronda, 38, address unavailable, was charged with petit larceny Friday afternoon at TJ Maxx on Route 58 after she attempted to steal assorted clothing but was caught by store security, according to police.

• Tatiana Contegni, 29, of Center Moriches was charged with driving while intoxicated just after midnight Saturday on Roanoke Avenue and Main Street in Riverhead. Ms. Contegni was pulled over for a traffic violation and bumped another car at the traffic light, according to police

• Jacinto Cetobrito, age and address unavailable, was charged with DWI about 4 a.m. Sunday on Peconic Avenue in Riverhead. Mr. Cetobrito left the scene of an accident and dragged a traffic cone under his car, police said.

Additional information was not available.

• Two unknown women stole more than $500 worth of footwear from the UGG Australia store at Tanger Outlets Friday afternoon, according to police.

• Three men stole $360 worth of electronic equipment from Staples on Route 58 Monday night and fled the area by car, according to police.

Those who are named in police reports have not been convicted of any crime or violation. The charges against them may later be reduced or withdrawn, or they may be found innocent.