Suffolk Contractor Bilked Clients Of Thousands Of Dollars: Cops

SHIRLEY, NY — A Suffolk man scammed customers out of over $20,000 over the past six months, police said.

Steven Vitagliano, the owner of the Mastic-based company, Line Up Fence Co, made "verbal and written agreements" to install fencing outside of several homes within the confines of the 7th Precinct over the past six months, but did not perform the work, police said.

Vitagliano would accept payment in the form of cash or checks, failed to do the contracted work, and then stopped "communicating with the customers," according to police.

Ten victims were identified as having paid Vitagliano a combined $20,000 over the past six months without receiving a new fence an investigation by 7th Squad detectives found, police said.

Vitagliano, 37, of Mastic, was charged with first-degree scheming to defraud and he was released on an appearance ticket returnable to First District Court in Central Islip at a later date, according to police.

The investigation is continuing, police said. Anyone who has additional information, or who believes they may have been a victim, can call 7th Squad detectives at 631-852-8752.