Crime & Safety

Two Charged With Hate Crime for Burglarizing Elderly Woman in Greenlawn

The suspects may have targeted other elderly residents in separate incidents, according to an investigation by Second Squad Detectives.

A man and a woman were arrested and charged with a hate crime for burglarizing an elderly woman in Greenlawn on Monday.
Police said the two suspects, who claimed to be collecting donations for a church, gained access to the woman’s apartment in Paumanack Village and stole property from her at 1:15 p.m.
Police arrested Heather Marchese, 23, no address listed, and Sean DiStefano, 24, of Shoreham, and charged them with second degree burglary as a hate crime.
Marchese was additionally charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and possession of a hypodermic instrument.
Marchese and DiStefano may have targeted other elderly residents in separate incidents, according to an investigation by Second Squad Detectives.
Anyone with information can call Suffolk County Hate Crimes at 631-852-6323.

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