Culprit Caught After String of Thefts from Vehicles in Wading River: Police

RIVERHEAD, NY - An alleged thief has been apprehended after a string of car break-ins in Wading River, police said.

According to Riverhead Police, calls came in on February 18 during the early morning areas about a series of larcenies from vehicles in the Wading River area.

While conducting an investigation into the larcenies, it was reported that an unknown white male subject was seen running through residents’ yards and last seen running across a farm field located in the area of Sunwood Drive, police said.

Officers canvassed the area and located a subject matching the description of the man involved in the larcenies in the area of Fresh Pond Avenue, police said.

After a brief foot pursuit officers apprehended the subject in Calverton Meadows at 2 p.m. on February 18, police said.

Karl Wittig, 34, of Shirley, was found to have an active Suffolk County warrant and was placed under arrest, police said.

While in custody, Wittig was found to be in possession of stolen property from an earlier reported vehicle larceny and subsequently charged with criminal possession of stolen property in the fifth degree, a misdemeanor, and arraigned.

On Thursday, the Riverhead Town Police Department charged Wittig with five additional counts of criminal possession of stolen property in the fifth degree, misdemeanors stemming from the larcenies from vehicles in the Wading River area on the morning of February 18, police said.

Wittig was arraigned on the new charges and transported back to the Suffolk County Correctional Facility, police said.

“The community played an important role in assisting the Riverhead Police Department by reporting the suspicious activity of the unknown male running through the area,” police said in a releae.

The Riverhead Town Police Department encouraged residents to report suspicious activity when it occurs. “If you see something, say something.”

Residents should keep their vehicles locked at all times and remove all valuables, police said.