Islandia Walmart guard spots repeat thieves, police say

Two men who walked into a Walmart in Islandia Thursday night were recognized by the security guard at the door as the two who had robbed the same store Monday, police said.

Officers were waiting outside the store when the two thieves ran out Thursday at about 10:30 p.m. with a television, milk, a bag of Doritos and a mirror, Suffolk County police said.

Police identified one of the men as Thomas Wolfe, 33, of Islip. The other man's identity has not been released, police said.

Both were charged with two counts of petty larceny, which applies when the items stolen are worth less than $1,000.

Arraignment was scheduled for Friday in First District Court in Central Islip, police said.

Police said the security guard, who was not named, noticed the two men as they got out of a Budget rental truck they had driven into the parking lot of the store, located on Veterans Memorial Highway.

He recognized them as the men who had robbed the same store Monday, police said.

In that theft, which occurred shortly before midnight, the duo raced out of the store with at least one TV and other electronics and jumped a fence, according to police.

Police said the television was not large or expensive.

On Thursday night, the alert guard called 911 after recognizing the pair.

Officers were waiting as the duo left the store. One man was caught immediately, the other after a short foot pursuit, police said.

It was all that - and a bag of chips.