Crime Stoppers tip leads to arrest in identity theft case

Acting on a tip from Nassau County Crime Stoppers, police this week arrested a Hempstead man they say stole a wallet containing cash and credit cards from a truck in May.

Nassau police said Edwin Gaines, 38, took the wallet the morning of May 19 from a truck parked in a Cooper Street lot in Hempstead, then used the credit cards that night at a Gulf gas station on Clinton Street.

Gaines was charged Tuesday with possession of stolen property, identity theft and consuming alcohol in public. He was arraigned Thursday at First District Court in Hempstead.

It was not immediately clear if Gaines had an attorney or entered a plea. He was scheduled to return to court Aug. 15.