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Suffolk County Police said Tariasha Smith, age 25, of West Babylon, was driving a 2015 Volkswagen Jetta at the Lidl supermarket parking lot, in Oakdale, on Wednesday, Julyy 28, when she noticed a woman left her pocketbook in a shopping cart, while she was putting her groceries in her car.
Smith’s front-seat passenger, Robert Hengeveld, age 50, grabbed the pocketbook from Smith’s vehicle, according to police.
The pair then committed a similar theft at the ShopRite store in Patchogue, police said.
A short time later, Patrol Officer Vincent Maxwell spotted a vehicle matching the description of the larcenies northbound on Route 112, in Patchogue and initiated a traffic stop, said police.
Smith and Hengeveld gave the officers their ID, before fleeing northbound on Route 112 at a high rate of speed, according to police.
Officer Maxwell did not initiate a pursuit, and followed the vehicle from a safe distance, police said.
Smith lost control of her vehicle when she attempted to make a turn on Peconic Avenue in Medford and struck a tree at approximately 10:50 a.m., according to police
The pair fled on foot before being caught a very short time later by Maxwell and Officer Dennis Stewart, said police.
An investigation by detectives revealed Smith and Hengeveld were responsible for larcenies at the following locations.
- Giunta's Meat Farms of Bohemia
- ShopRite of Lake Ronkonkoma
- ShopRite of Lake Ronkonkoma
- ShopRite of Lake Ronkonkoma
- ALDI supermarket of Patchogue
- Stop & Shop, in Holbrook
- Lidl supermarket in Patchogue
- ShopRite of Patchogue
Hengeveld, who is undomiciled, and Smith were charged with:
- Eight counts of grand larceny
- Three counts of criminal possession of stolen property
- Fleeing an officer in a motor vehicle
Detectives remind motorists to always be aware of your surroundings and keep an eye on your valuables at all times.
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