Cops: Shoplifts In EH, Sells On eBay

A Manhattan woman with a Fifth Avenue address who also maintains a house in Springs was arraigned in East Hampton Town Justice Court last week, after allegedly using an unusual business model on eBay, shoplifting in East Hampton Village, then listing the stolen item on the auction website.

Eileen Paula Gleit-Melniker, 64, on the afternoon of November 3, allegedly walked into Blue and Cream, a woman’s clothing store on The Circle, chatted with the clerks, then hurriedly left. The manager of the store told police Gleit-Melniker came in about once a month, but never seemed to buy anything.

After Gleit-Melniker left the store, the manager and a clerk noticed that a pair of army-green camouflage NSF Sayde sweatpants was missing. Checking surveillance video of the store, they reported to police that it showed Gleit-Melniker concealing the pants beneath her jacket before leaving the store.

Gleit-Melniker allegedly told police, when questioned, that she took the pants to her Norfolk Drive residence, and logged on to eBay, where she sells mostly women’s clothing under the ID of Eileemelnike-0. She checked how much the same pants were selling for on eBay, when advertised as “new with tags.” Disappointed with their resale value, compared to the $225 price tag, she allegedly told police she still took them to her Manhattan residence, photographed them, then listed them on eBay as “new with tags,” apparently at $149.

The item did not sell the first time around, and Gleit-Melniker relisted them, according to police. It is not clear if the sweats eventually sold or not.

Gleit-Melniker’s eBay feedback includes comments from buyers of designer “new with tags” items purchased from her. For example, the buyer of another pair of new with tags” NSF sweats sold in late October commented, “A+ Seller: Gorgeous Sweatpants, Fast Ship. THNX. Highly recommended.” Gleit-Melniker’s items also include items from designers with shops in East Hampton Village, such as J. Crew.

Detective Sgt. Greg Brown was out of the office Monday, which is deadline day at The Independent, for comment as to whether there is an ongoing investigation or not.

After being questioned the day after Thanksgiving, she was placed under arrest on two misdemeanor charges, petty larceny and criminal possession of stolen property. She was released from police headquarters after being issued an appearance ticket to be arraigned December 13.

In other news, according to the East Hampton Town police, a violation of a court order of protection resulted in a local resident being arrested twice over within a few days of each other.

On the morning of December 8, Derrick Lamont Short was said by police to have pulled his car into his ex-wife’s driveway then gotten out. All this was in violation of an order out of a Kings County court from 2014 demanding that Short stay away from the woman, police said. He was arrested and charged with criminal contempt as a violation.

Arraigned later that morning, bail was set at $500.

Unable to make the bail, Short was taken to county jail. Three days later, he was hit with the same charge, but this time as a felony. According to police, he called his ex-wife in East Hampton from jail, asking her to post bail for him. This charge was at the felony level, because Short has a prior conviction for criminal contempt. He remained in county jail as of Monday.

Also, an East Hampton man who has had several brushes with the law in the past was arraigned in East Hampton Town Justice Court. Brian Midgett, 27, was charged with criminal contempt as a misdemeanor, and was freed on $500 bail.

t.e@indyeastend.com