Duo Indicted In North Shore Diner Burglaries: Suffolk DA

RIVERSIDE, NY — A pair of people have been indicted in connection with breaking into six small businesses — including two popular diners on the north shore — swiping items like $1,500 in cash, cigarettes, candy, and an iPad, Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney said today.

Ralph Pergola, 44, and Kristen Allen, 35, both of whom have no last known address, were each indicted for multiple counts of burglary and other related charges, after allegedly breaking into and stealing from the six businesses in less than a month, according to prosecutors.

“Small businesses are the heart and soul of Suffolk County,” Tierney said. “My office is dedicated to ensuring our local businesses thrive by rigorously prosecuting criminals who would pillage and steal from them.”

From Sept. 30 to Oct. 23, 2023, between midnight and 5 a.m., Pergola and Allen burglarized multiple commercial businesses, with Pergola smashing the glass door with a rock, prosecutors said.

Once the glass shattered, the pair would go inside to steal the items, according to prosecutors.

Pergola is accused of burglarizing the Heritage Diner in Mount Sinai on Sept. 30, prosecutors said.

The pair broke into the Setauket Village Diner on Rte. 25A in East Setauket and Café Spiga on North Country Road in Mount Sinai on Oct. 19, then two days later on Oct. 21, the Smoke Shop and Hookah on Mark Tree Road in Centereach, according to prosecutors.

A day after that on Oct. 22, the two broke into Port Smoke on Old Town Road in Port Jefferson, and then on Oct. 23, Better on a Bagel on Gibbs Road in Coram, prosecutors said.

Pergola and Allen were both arrested by Suffolk police on Oct. 23.

Pergola has been charged with six counts of third-degree burglary and five counts of third-degree criminal mischief, as well as one count of fourth-degree criminal mischief, all felonies. He was additionally charged with one count of first-degree loitering, a misdemeanor.

Allen was indicted on five counts of third-degree burglary, a felony, and one count of first-degree loitering, a misdemeanor.

At his arraignment on Friday, Pergola was placed on supervised release with GPS conditions.

His attorney, John Halverson of Patchogue, said that he entered a not guilty plea and his client maintains his innocence.

He is due back in court on Jan. 17.

If convicted, both defendants face up to two and one-third to seven years in prison on each burglary charge.

Allen was placed on supervised release with GPS conditions at her arraignment on Nov. 28.

She is being represented by The Legal Society, which does not comment on cases.

She is due back in court on Jan. 5.