LI DATELINES

OCEANSIDE/Food store cashier charged with larceny

A cashier at an Oceanside organic food store who allegedly faked store returns and pocketed the cash has been arrested.

Nassau police said Martha Diaz, 38, of Malverne, had been stealing from Jandi's Natural Market & Organic Cafe in Oceanside since Sept. 11, 2009.

Diaz created phony returns and either pocketed cash or credited money to her store account, Det. Sgt. John Harvey of Nassau's 4th Squad said.

She also stole boxes of garbage bags and paper towels, which she piled in black garbage bags and took from the store, Harvey said.

Over roughly seven months, Diaz stole more than $1,200, Harvey said.

The store became suspicious and reviewed their security videos and checked business records, focusing in on Diaz before calling police, Harvey said.

Diaz was arrested at home on Saturday and charged with felony grand larceny, forgery and falsifying business records; and a misdemeanor, petty larceny.

- JENNIFER BARRIOS

CUTCHOGUE/Woman using drugs arrested in store theft

Southold police say they arrested a Freeport woman early yesterday who had allegedly stolen items from the Down Home Store in Cutchogue while under the influence of prescription drugs.

Police said they received a report of a subject taking items from the store and found Michelle Hong, 48, of Freeport, in her vehicle about 12:04 a.m. on Route 25 in Mattituck.

Hong had slurred speech and her eyes were glassy, police said, and she admitted to having taken prescription drugs. Items in the back of her vehicle, police said, were taken from the Down Home Store. Police charged Hong with driving while under the influence, criminal possession of stolen property and failure to maintain a lane.

- WILL VAN SANT