Car Stolen From Nassau Driveway, 1 Day After Facebook Marketplace Purchase: Police

BALDWIN, NY — A Brooklyn man has been placed under arrest in connection with a Baldwin grand larceny that took place in January, police said.

Detectives say a male victim, 46, agreed to purchase a 2024 Acura MDX from an unknown seller through Facebook Marketplace, police said.

The victim tested out the vehicle and gave a payment of $38,000, police said.

The seller provided the purchaser with one key fob, a title and identification, police said.

The following day, the male victim parked his 2024 Acura MDX in the driveway at his Baldwin residence, authorities said.

The victim observed an unknown person in his driveway remotely unlock and enter the victim’s vehicle and then fled the scene in the vehicle in an unknown direction, police said.

After a thorough investigation, police determined that Edwin Ortiz, 28, was responsible for the crime, police said.

On Thursday, Ortiz was located and placed under arrest without incident, police said.
He is charged with third-degree grand larceny, second-degree forgery and first-degree identity theft, police said.

Ortiz was scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday at First District Court in Hempstead.