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Three Arrested for Stealing Cemetery Vases

Written by Long Island News & PR  |  07. February 2014

Farmingdale, NY - February 7th, 2014 - Suffolk County Police today arrested three people for stealing bronze vases from a Farmingdale cemetery.

First Precinct officers responded to a 911 call of a theft in progress at Pinelawn Cemetery, located at 2030 Wellwood Ave., at approximately 12:15 p.m.  Officers located two male suspects who were still at the cemetery in a white 2010 Volkswagen Beetle which had also been driven in a prior larceny at the graveyard.  When the officer attempted to initiate a stop, the driver of the Volkswagen evaded police by driving through a locked metal gate.  After a brief pursuit, the suspects were apprehended at the intersection of North Pine Drive and North Linden Street in Massapequa.    

Further investigations by First Squad detectives revealed that the driver of the vehicle Nicholas Giambalvo, 27, his passenger, Max Schneider, 24, and the owner of the Volkswagen, Elizabeth Dono, 27, were responsible for the thefts of numerous bronze vases with a combined value of approximately $53,000.  The thefts occurred on October 1, and 16, 2013, and February 5, 6, 2014.

Giambalvo and Dono are also responsible for a burglary that occurred December 2013 in which they entered a vacant home on Kime Avenue in North Babylon and stole copper piping.

Giambalvo, of Etna Lane, Dix Hills, was charged with four counts of Grand Larceny 3rd Degree, Burglary 3rd Degree, Unlawfully Fleeing an Officer, Criminal Mischief 3rd Degree, Reckless Driving and Resisting Arrest.

Schneider, of Dix Circle, Dix Hills, was charged with two counts of Grand Larceny 3rd Degree and Resisting Arrest.

Dono, of Amsterdam Avenue, North Babylon, was charged with Grand Larceny and Burglary 3rd Degree.

All three are scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on February 7.

Detectives ask anyone who may have witnessed the vase thefts or have any additional information to call the First Squad at 631-854-8152 or anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.

A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Incident:         Three Arrested for Stealing Cemetery Vases
Location:        Pinelawn Cemetery, 2030 Wellwood Ave., Farmingdale
Date/Time:     Thursday, February 6, 2014 at approximately 12:15 p.m.

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