3 Indicted For Suffolk Dunkin' Burglary Spree: Prosecutors

RIVERSIDE, NY — A trio of two men and a woman has been indicted in connection with a burglary spree of five Dunkin' locations in the Holbrook area between Dec. 28, 2022 and Jan. 20, 2023, in which thousands of dollars were stolen, Suffolk prosecutors said Thursday.

Christopher Volpe, 44, of Patchogue, and Michael Gruber, 54, of Medford, are each charged with five counts of third-degree burglary. Kristen Osmolia, 51, of Holbrook, is charged with three counts of third-degree burglary.

Gruber drove the trio in his 2019 Chevrolet Equinox to and from each of the burglary locations, prosecutors said, adding that once there, Volpe pried open the back doors of the locations while the businesses were closed, and stole money from cash drawers, boxes, and safes.

During the last three burglaries, Osmolia acted as a lookout, and helped with stealing money from inside one of the locations, prosecutors said.

Volpe, Gruber, and Osmolia are accused of burglarizing locations in East Setauket, Saint James, Smithtown, Holbrook, and Farmingville, according to prosecutors.

Investigators with Suffolk police linked Gruber’s Chevrolet Equinox to each of the burglaries and apprehended the trio in the moments following their last heist in Farmingville, prosecutors said.

In total, Volpe, Gruber, and Osmolia have taken around $6,500, and of that, around $4,500 was recovered when they were arrested, according to prosecutors.

District Attorney Ray Tierney said, "You cannot break into businesses and steal other people’s livelihoods in Suffolk County without being held accountable for your actions. This burglary operation victimized local businesses and their operations only ended because the [Suffolk County Police Department] caught them shortly after the last alleged burglary. My office will hold these defendants responsible for their actions.”

Volpe’s bail was set at $25,000 cash, $250,000 bond, or $250,000 partially-secured bond. He was already being held on $250,000 cash, $500,000 bond, or $2.5 million from his initial arraignment from the arrest.

Patch has reached out to his attorney, Scott Lockwood of Deer Park, for comment.

Gruber was ordered released with supervised release provisions and GPS monitoring. His attorney, Steven Fondulis of Port Jefferson, could not be immediately reached for comment.

Osmolia, who was released on her own recognizance, was represented by Robert Dapelo of Patchogue. He could also not be reached for comment.

Gruber and Osmolia are due in court again on March 6. Volpe's next court date is March 7.