2 accused of home construction site theft, Riverhead cops say

Officers responding to a 911 call reporting two “suspicious” men removing items from a home under construction Thursday in Calverton were arrested after a traffic stop near the site, Riverhead Town police said.

Matthew S. Halliday, 22, of Manorville, and Brian P. Schrang, 35, of Mount Sinai, were each charged with fourth-degree grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property, police said. Both were held for arraignment Friday.

Police said the call reporting the suspicious activity at the home on Alfred Avenue was received at 7:35 p.m.

Patrol units stopped Halliday and Schrang, who were in a 1995 GMC Suburban, a short time later on Alfred Avenue.

Police said the Suburban, pulling a trailer with construction materials, was stopped “leaving the area.”

The sport utility vehicle, driven by Halliday, was impounded, police said. Police said construction material was recovered, but provided no additional details about what was recovered.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”