Police: Centereach Man Charged in 4 Home Burglaries

A Centereach man has been arrested for committing four recent residential burglaries across the county, police said.

Tha arrest of William Steifer came after Fifth Precinct patrol officers responded to a 911 call about a burglary at a home on Park Street in Blue Point on Sunday afternoon, police said.

Officer Michael Coyne, with the assistance of off-duty officer Steven Niggemeier, apprehended Steifer, 29, as he was climbing out of a rear window of the residence, police said.

Further investigation by Fifth Squad detectives revealed that Steifer was linked to several other burglaries that recently occurred on Handsome Avenue in Sayville, Tide Court in Oakdale and Singingwood Lane in Poquot, police said. Proceeds recovered from the burglaries included jewelry and electronics, police said.

Steifer is charged with four counts of second degree burglary, criminal possession of burglar’s tools and seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. He was also arrested for an outstanding New York State Parole warrant, police said.

Steifer was being held at the Fifth Precinct and is scheduled to be arraigned Monday morning at First District Court in Central Islip.

The investigation is continuing and detectives are asking anyone with any information to contact the Fifth Squad at 631-854-8552.