A Queens man was arrested for stealing merchandise from a number of stores between July 2024 and September 2024 in North Lawrence and possession of drugs.
According to detectives, William Foster, 44, of 5616 Beach Channel Drive, entered Marshalls located at 345 Rockaway Turnpike on September 11 and proceeded to pass all points of purchase with store merchandise. The defendant left the store without rendering payment and fled the scene.
A short time later, at 1:40 p.m., responding officers located Foster and placed him under arrest without further incident. Foster was found to be in possession of a white powdery substance believed to be cocaine.
During the investigation, detectives discovered that Foster was responsible for the following larcenies that occurred at 345 Rockaway Turnpike:
- July 20, 2024 – Marshalls
- August 4, 2024 – DSW
- August 16, 2024 – Marshalls
- August 24, 2024- Burlington
Further investigation also revealed that, on August 24, 2024, Foster entered Burlington Coat Factory and selected merchandise, passing all points of purchase without rendering payment. When approached by a store employee, he displayed a handgun, placing the victim in fear for his life before fleeing the scene.
Foster is charged with first-degree robbery, fifth-degree criminal possession of controlled substance, fourth-degree grand larceny, violation of the county’s Mask Transparency Act and three counts of petit larceny. Foster also had an open bench warrant in Nassau County.
He was scheduled to be arraigned on September 12 at First District Court in Hempstead.