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The incident happened Tuesday, Jan. 17, in Long Beach, according to Nassau County Police.
Detectives said an 88-year-old man received a phone call from an unknown man saying his grandson had been in an accident and needed money.
The caller told the man to place $5,500 in cash into a package labeled “M2125” and that a person named Richard wearing a brown hat would come to pick it up.
Fortunately, the would-be victim contacted his grandson and confirmed that he had not been in an accident. He then called the police.
When “Richard” arrived a short time later and asked for the package, the man handed it to him. Waiting detectives identified themselves and tried to arrest the suspect, but he attempted to run away, police said.
He was eventually arrested after a brief struggle. There were no reports of injuries.
Police identified the suspect as 28-year-old Larry Urtarte, of Paterson, New Jersey. He is facing the following charges:
- Grand larceny - fourth degree
- Attempted grand larceny - third degree
- Resisting arrest
Detectives asked anyone who may have been a victim of Urtarte to contact the Nassau County Police Department’s Fraud and Forgery unit at 516-573-2815 or contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers.
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