Cops say E. Patchogue man stole purse, cashed checks

An East Patchogue man has been arrested for allegedly taking part in the upstate theft of a pocketbook and then cashing stolen checks at two Long Island banks, State Police said.

Joseph Fenton, 30, and his former girlfriend stole a pocketbook from a McDonald's in Oswego in August, police said, adding it was later found in Long Island Sound by a Rocky Point resident. Several checks from the pocketbook were forged and cashed at two banks in Rocky Point, according to police.

Fenton is charged with possession of a forged instrument, possession of stolen property and petit larceny, police said.

Further charges are pending the recovery of additional forged checks, police said. Also, the arrest of the former girlfriend is pending, as she is incarcerated in Pennsylvania.