A North Babylon man was arrested Thursday after Suffolk County police said he stole money from a woman’s purse during a distraction scheme in a West Babylon parking lot.
Police said the incident happened Wednesday, May 20, at 3 p.m. at 531 Montauk Highway in West Babylon.
According to police, a woman was returning to her vehicle after shopping when a man approached her and told her she had a flat tire. He offered to fill the tire and asked the woman to search for a jack in her trunk.
While the woman was distracted, police said the man stole money from her purse, which was inside the vehicle. Investigators believe the suspect deflated the tire before the victim returned to her car.
Following an investigation by the Suffolk County Police First Precinct Investigative Unit, Peter Cordero, 55, of North Babylon, was arrested and charged with petit larceny and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.
Cordero was scheduled to be held at the First Precinct pending arraignment Friday, May 22, at First District Court in Central Islip.
Police are asking anyone who believes they may have been victimized by Cordero to contact the First Precinct Crime Section at 631-854-8130.
A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
