Middletown Man Stole Thousands of Dollars of Rings by Putting Them in His Mouth: Police

By Alex Costello (Patch Staff)

Nassau police have arrested and charged a Connecticut man for grand larcenies they say he committed in Bellmore and Massapequa in September.

According to detectives, on Sept. 9 and 28, Joseph Castro, 52, of Liberty Street in Middletown, Connecticut, entered J and H Jewelry, located at 2723 Merrick Road in Bellmore, engaged employees in conversation under the ruse that he was there to purchase a ring, and concealed eight rings valued at more than $18,000 in his mouth. The losses were discovered during a store inventory.

On Sept. 12, police say Castro entered Great American Jewelry Inc., located at 5163 Merrick Road in Massapequa, and again concealed a ring in his mouth, which was valued at more than $4,000, under the ruse that he wanted to make a purchase. The loss was determined during a store inventory.

On Dec. 13, Castro entered Good Old Gold, located at 5278 Sunrise Highway in Massapequa Park, where he was recognized by store employees, who then notified police. Officers responded and placed him under arrest at the scene.

Castro was allegedly found to be in possession of heroin.

He is being charged with two counts of third-degree grand larceny and seventh- degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, and was arraigned on Wednesday at First District Court in Hempstead. His bail was set at $50,000 and has yet to be posted.

Detectives request that anyone who believes they may have been victimized by Castro to notify the Seventh Squad at 516-573-6756.

Photo: Nassau County Police Department