Five people between the ages of 16 and 21 have been arrested for grand larceny during a traffic stop in North Merrick.
On February 12 at 3:40 a.m., Nassau County police responded to Van Nostrand Avenue for a suspicious person and vehicle with multiple occupants. Responding officers located the suspicious male who allegedly stated he was with his friends in a 2025 U-Haul Cargo van. Police conducted a Vehicle and Traffic Law stop and in plain view within the vehicle and reportedly observed multiple credit cards, wallets and identification card inside the vehicle. The investigation revealed the items to be proceeds from several automobile larcenies in the area and the following individuals were arrested without incident:
- a 16-year-old male juvenile
- a 17-year-old female juvenile
- Woobenz Joseph, 20, of Uniondale
- Jayda Joseph, 18, of Uniondale
- Travis Gittens, 21, of Uniondale
Police charged Joseph, Gittens and Joseph with three counts of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree. Joseph is additionally charged with Petit Larceny. The 16-year-old male juvenile is charged with two counts of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, attempted Criminal Possession of Stolen Property and Petit Larceny. The 17-year-old female juvenile is charged with two counts of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property and Attempted Criminal Possession of Stolen Property.
All five defendants were released on Desk Appearance Tickets.