Putnam Man Steals From Store, Returns Items For Refund: Police

YORKTOWN, NY — A Putnam County man was arrested after being accused of a scheme in which he would take merchandise from a store without paying for it and return it for a refund.

The Yorktown Police Department said Scott Jon Keeler, 48, of Putnam Valley, was charged Thursday with third-degree grand larceny, a felony, and petit larceny, a misdemeanor.

Police said, around 12:15 p.m. Aug. 2, officers received a report of multiple past thefts from Lowe’s Home Improvement.

A detective met with store management and began an investigation.

It was determined that Keeler, beginning in June and continuing through July, removed a variety of products from the store without paying for them, police said.

He would then fraudulently return them using another receipt and receive a refund, according to authorities.

Police said he received more than $3,041 from the fake refunds.

Around 5 p.m. Thursday, Yorktown police received a call from Lowe’s Loss Prevention that said Keeler was in the store and was in the process of stealing more merchandise.

Police responded and placed him under arrest.

Keeler was taken to the Yorktown Police Department for processing, after which he was arraigned.

He was released on his own recognizance to appear Sept. 12 in the Yorktown Justice Court.