Crime & Safety
Police: Steamfitter Lied to Homeowner About Qualification
Edward Zapata, 42, of Bellport was charged with third-degree grand larceny, a felony.
say they arrested a Bellport steamfitter on Dec. 4 after he lied to a Remsenburg family about being a licensed technician from a Ronkonkoma-based oil burner company.
Police say they charged Edward Zapata, 42, with third-degree grand larceny, a felony after they discovered he told the owner of a home on Seatuck Lane in Remsenburg that he worked for Burner King Oil and Gas Services and provided paperwork from the company in arranging to complete a $22,000 job.
Zapata had not been employed by Burner King’s for seven months, according to police.
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Police say Zapata had the family write checks to him personally, and the homeowner advanced him $15,000 to cover a deposit and supplies. After Zapata received the check, he stopped contacting the homeowner and did not do any work.
Zpata's arrest report states that he is employed as a steamfitter with a local union.
