Men Steal $24K In Phones, Tablets From BJ's Wholesale Club: PD

Two men are accused of stealing $24,000 worth of cell phones and tablets from BJ's Wholesale Club in Westbury on Tuesday, police say.

According to authorities, an investigation revealed 38-year-old Oyster Bay resident Donald Hayes and 52-year-old Springfield Gardens resident Mark Hoousendove broke into the Verizon Kiosk within BJ's, located at 6000 Brush Hollow Road, and stole cell phones and tablets valued in excess of $24,000 at 9:48 p.m. The men fled the store before authorities responded to the alarm activation, police say.

Further investigation led authorities to Springfield Gardens, Queens where Hayes and Hoousendove were arrested and charged with grand larceny. Hoousendove was additionally charged with an unrelated warrant for aggravated unlicensed operation.

The men were arraigned Wednesday at First District Court in Hempstead.

Image via NCPD: (left to right) Hayes, Hoousendove