SH Town, Sag Harbor Burglary Ring Broken

Four Riverhead men were charged with multiple felonies involving larceny, grand larceny, and burglary in Southampton and Sag Harbor. Lieutenant Susan Ralph of the Southampton Town police called the four a “larceny ring” Monday. She said the men, who are homeless and were living in the woods near Riverhead, targeted businesses in Hampton Bays, Bridgehampton, the Southampton area, and East Quogue. The crimes in the Southampton Town police jurisdiction occurred between June 18 and July 7.

The Sag Harbor burglary was the final one in the crime spree, occurring early on July 10. The final act of the spree, according to police, was the alleged burglary of a Glover Street landscaping company. According to the police, the quartet made off with more than $7000 worth of landscaping equipment.

Elisandro Lopez-Guzman, 36, was the first to be picked up. He was questioned by Southampton Town police, and gave a statement, apparently leading to the arrest of the other three: Sebatian Membreno, 25, Oscar Escobar Gonzales, 26, and Amilcar Veliz-Veliz, 33.

They were arraigned in Southampton on July 13. Veliz-Veliz is facing the most charges out of Southampton Town Justice Court, seven altogether, including multiple charges of grand larceny and burglary. After being arraigned in Southampton, the four were taken to county jail, and held overnight.

As the four were being readied on Friday to be brought in a sheriff’s van to Sag Harbor to be arraigned on two more charges each, grand larceny and burglary, a scuffle broke out, and Veliz-Veliz was punched in the face, and had to be taken to the hospital. He will be arraigned at a later date.

Bail was set in Sag Harbor at $10,000 each, after varying amounts were set for each in Southampton. All remained in custody as of Monday.

Lt. Ralph said there is an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency detainer on at least two of the suspects.

t.e@indyeastend.com