Queens Teen Stole Trader Joe's Customers' Phone, Credit Card: Police

YORKTOWN, NY — A teenager didn't quite make it home free after pulling off a lucrative scheme at a popular Hudson Valley grocery store, according to police.

The Yorktown Police Department says that they received two separate reports on Friday of property being stolen from customers shopping at Trader Joe's, including a cellphone.

Officers and detectives were able to track the stolen phone to a moving vehicle which was traveling south on the Taconic State Parkway. The vehicle was located and stopped in the Town of Mount Pleasant.

Police say that the driver, a 16-year-old from Flushing, was found to be in possession of the stolen phone from one victim and other property stolen from a second victim, including a credit card.

In addition, police said the teen had $2,383.00 of merchandise recently purchased using the stolen credit card.

The teen was arrested and taken back to Yorktown Police Department headquarters for arrest processing and guardian notification.

Yorktown police say the teen was charged as an adolescent offender. However, if the teen had been an adult, charges would have included felony fourth-degree grand larceny, felony fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, and misdemeanor fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property.

The teen was released to a responsible adult, and is scheduled to appear at the Westchester County Courthouse; Felony Youth Part on April 24.