Serial Thief Charged In Quogue Gas Station Burglary: Cops

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — A man responsible for a string of burglaries across Suffolk County in August was arrested Monday, police said.

According to Suffolk County Police, Richard Ambrose, 41, of Rocky Point, and Travis James, 31, of Riverhead, were arrested and charged with third degree burglary for three burglaries that took place early Monday, including incidents at the Speedway Gas Station on Jericho Turnpike in Commack at 1:23 a.m., the Conoco Gas Station on Medford Ave. in Patchogue at 2:30 a.m., and the Speedway Gas Station on Rt. 112 in Port Jefferson Station at 3 a.m., police said.

The arrests follow a month long run of burglaries from one end of Suffolk County to the other for Ambrose, charged with third degree burglary for incidents —some on the same days — at Tease Salon Off Broadway in Rocky Point on Aug. 8; the Broadway Market in Rocky Point on Aug. 10; The Wine Authority on Nesconset Hwy. in Mount Sinai on Aug. 15; the Speedway Gas Station on Middle Country Rd. in Lake Grove on Aug. 17; the Speedway Gas Station on Nesconset Hwy. in Smithtown on Aug. 19; the Moody Mart/Mobil Gas Station on West Jericho Turnpike in Smithtown on Aug. 21; the Pit Stop Pantry on Montauk Hwy. in East Moriches on Aug. 26; the Speedway Gas Station on Montauk Hwy. in Bayport on Aug. 26; Onsen Sushi on Montauk Hwy. in Oakdale on Aug. 27; the Fortune Cookie Chinese Food Restaurant on Montauk Hwy. in Oakdale on Aug. 27; and the BP Gas Station on Nesconset Hwy. in Port Jefferson Station on Aug. 31, police said.

In addition, Ambrose was charged with third degree burglary by the Riverhead, Quogue and Southold Police Departments for incidents at the Valero Gas Station on Rt. 25A in Wading River on Aug. 12; the Speedway Gas Station on Montauk Highway in Quogue on Aug. 12; the Speedway Gas Station on Main Road in Mattituck on Aug. 25; and the Empire Gas Station on Main Road in Laurel, police said.

Ambrose was also charged with third degree attempted burglary for an incident on Main Road in Jamesport on Aug. 12, police said.

Ambrose and James will be held overnight at the 6th Precinct, and are scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on Tuesday, police said.

In Jan., 2017, Ambrose, then of Shirley, was charged with a series of burglaries across the Hamptons, spanning a two-month period, police said.

Patch photo courtesy Suffolk County Police.