Police: Riverside man stole batteries, sold them ‘back’ to owner

A Riverside man who was arrested in November from swiping speakers from a parked car now stands accused of stealing car batteries from cars parked outside a recycling center — then selling them back to that same center, according to Southampton Town police.

The batteries were reported stolen from the shop on Old Quogue Road on Oct. 23, after two people — one of whom was later identified as 48-year-old Anthony Jenkins — removed four car batteries worth a combined $360 from vehicles parked in a dirt lot outside the center, police said.

The duo then sold the batteries back to the shop for a combined $25, according to a police report.

Mr. Jenkins — who is also known by the alias “Creepy,” according to police — was later identified by employees at the recycling center. He was not arrested back in October because a warrant had not yet been issued for his arrest, said police Sergeant William Kiernan.

That warrant was issued lastweek, and Mr. Jenkins was spotted at about 9 p.m. Friday on Pine Street near Vail Avenue, where he was stopped by police and arrested, police said. Mr. Jenkins was charged with criminal mischief and petit larceny and was released.

Police have not reported any other arrests.

Mr. Jenkins had also been arrested after allegedly stealing a box of speakers from a locked vehicle in Riverside before selling them off. He turned himself into police a day after the theft, police said.