Cops: 2 charged, 2 sought in package thefts

Police say Colby Fiedler, 19, and Vincenzo Francese, 19, were... — Police say Colby Fiedler, 19, and Vincenzo Francese, 19, were arrested for allegedly snatching delivered packages from the front of Lindenhurst homes. Credit: SCPD

By ELLEN YANellen.yan@newsday.comDecember 21, 2011

Two more men are being sought after two were arrested in the drive-by snatches of delivered packages from the front of Lindenhurst homes, Suffolk police said yesterday.

Colby Fiedler, 19, and Vincenzo Francese, 19, both of Lindenhurst, were arrested at Fiedler's home Tuesday, hours after one of their victims spotted their car in the neighborhood and followed them in his car, police said.

Three weeks ago, the victim's home surveillance video had captured the drive-by snatch and the getaway car, a silver Kia Optima with tinted windows, said Sgt. Wayne Hutzel of the First Precinct Crime Section.

"The person who had his package stolen now sees the car," Hutzel said. "He follows them and watches them unload some packages from their car into a garage. He calls us."

Francese told police he drove the car while someone else ran to get the packages, Hutzel said. He implicated two others, including the man being sought for taking the package from the house with the surveillance system, Hutzel said.

Five U.S. Postal Service and UPS deliveries addressed to three Lindenhurst residents were recovered in the garage and have been returned, including a beer-making kit and molds for chocolates, the sergeant said.

Police believe several other new items found in the car trunk, including clothes, jewelry and electronics, were also stolen and taken out of their boxes. "They haven't been able to produce any receipts for them," Hutzel said.

Francese told police the suspects hit at least 20 homes, the sergeant said.

"We have investigators combing through previous reports, and we expect it to be maybe more than that," the sergeant said.

Since news of the arrests, about six more residents have reported missing deliveries, he said.

Both suspects were charged with three counts of criminal possession of stolen property. Francese was also charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance.

They have been released with appearance tickets and are scheduled to be arraigned Feb. 27 at First District Court in Central Islip.