Cops: Larceny suspect stole wallet in Mineola courthouse

A Queens woman was charged Tuesday with stealing a wallet from the Nassau County Criminal Courthouse in Mineola last year while she was there because of a previous larceny arrest, police said.

The burglary took place in what Nassau County police described as "a secured location" in the west wing of the courthouse on Nov. 20.

The scene was caught on surveillance footage and police said that led to the arrest of Shoma Otto, of 113-33 203rd St., St. Albans, on Tuesday.

Otto was charged with third-degree burglary and fourth-degree grand larceny.

Records indicate Otto was in court on Nov. 20 for an appearance related to an arrest on April 22, 2009, when she was charged with three counts of second-degree possession of a forged instrument and one count of fourth-degree grand larceny. She had been released on her own recognizance.

Police said while she was in the courthouse, she entered a secured area and removed a wallet from a pocketbook, stealing credit cards and personal information.

Otto was originally due back in court May 11 on the prior arrest. Now, police said, she also will make an appearance Wednesday when she will be arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead.