Cops: Worker stole items, sold them online

Working as a stock room clerk at Williams-Sonoma in East Garden City, David Muscat stole items from the store, hid them in the trash, then would remove those items and sell them online, police said.

Since September, Nassau County police said, Muscat, 22, of Chestnut Street in Garden City, stole more than $200,000 worth of items.

The store, meanwhile, is claiming a loss of $453,444.66 worth of merchandise over a three-year period, police said.

Muscat, who worked as a stock room clerk for six years, has been charged with second-degree grand larceny and third-degree criminal possession of stolen property and is scheduled for arraignment Thursday in First District Court in Hempstead, police said.

It was not clear if he was represented by an attorney.

Police said that the charges are for thefts from the store between Sept. 1 and Tuesday.

Police said Muscat "would steal merchandise, hide it with the trash and would then remove the items and put them in his car located in the parking lot" of the store on Old Country Road. Muscat then used an eBay account to sell items -- and received payments through PayPal, police said.

Police said those payments totaled $200,798.95.

Merchandise was recovered from Muscat's car and home following the arrest, police said.

It was not clear what kinds of items were stolen. The store sells cookware and gourmet foods.