East Hampton Man Nabbed After Stealing From Vehicles: PD

EAST HAMPTON, NY — An East Hampton man was arrested after being found with stolen property taken from cars, police said.

According to East Hampton town police, the incident took place Sunday at about 11:58 p.m. Officers responded to Springs Fireplace Road, following the report of a man attempting to enter a parked vehicle, police said.

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Upon arrival, officers canvassed the area and observed a man rummaging through a vehicle on Floyd Street, police said.

A brief foot pursuit ensued, and with the assistance of East Hampton Village police officers, the man was apprehended and taken into custody, police said.

Officers identified him as Chase T. Wintjen, 33, police said.

An inventory of Wintjen's property revealed proceeds with an address on Spinner Lane, police said. Officers responded to the residence and determined that someone had also rummaged through a vehicle at that location, police said.

A subsequent investigation by East Hampton Town police detectives determined that Wintjen was also a suspect in three prior larceny investigations that had occurred in the East Hampton area on October 20, police said.

Wintjen was processed and held pending arraignment in East Hampton Town Justice Court, police said.

He was charged with one count of fourth-degree grand larceny, a Class E felony; two counts of petty larceny, Class A misdemeanors; and three counts of fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, Class A misdemeanors, police said.

Detectives are asking anyone with information regarding these incidents, or who believes they may have been a victim of Wintjen's, to contact the East Hampton Town Police Department at 631-537-7575. All calls will be kept confidential.