Homeless man sentenced for Nassau shoplifting, officials say

A homeless man was sentenced Wednesday to 3 1⁄2 to 7 years in prison for shoplifting from several supermarkets and drugstores, the Nassau County district attorney’s office said in a news release.

Alexander Wachmyanin, 50, who pleaded guilty on Jan. 15 to one count of robbery in the third degree, was sentenced Wednesday by acting state Supreme Court Justice Teresa Corrigan, according to the release.

He was also ordered to pay $30,059.23 in restitution.

Over a six-month span, Wachmyanin stole “over-the-counter medicines, hair treatment products and razors” from five Nassau County drugstores and supermarkets, the district attorney’s office said.

District Attorney Madeline Singas said in the release: “Thankfully this shoplifting spree has come to an end.”

Wachmyanin’s shoplifting began on Jan. 14, 2015, when he stole from a Westbury Rite Aid, Singas’ office said. Three months later, on April 14, Wachmyanin stole from CVS stores in Hewlett and East Rockaway, the release said.

Wachmyanin targeted the same East Rockaway CVS again on April 22. This time he was spotted shoplifting and was chased from the store by employees. After a “struggle ensued,” the employees were able to recover the stolen merchandise, the release said.

Wachmyanin then pushed a woman who was about to enter her car, stole the vehicle and fled, prosecutors said.

The spree continued on May 24, according to the release, when Wachmyanin stole from a CVS in West Hempstead.

He stole again from a Garden City Key Food on June 25 and 26, before he was arrested on June 28 by the Nassau Bureau of Special Operations, Nassau County police said.

Assistant District Attorney Tova Simpson prosecuted the case.