Cops: Off-Duty Officer Spots Teen Car Thieves

said on Monday that two local teenagers were arrested and charged with stealing a car from a residential neighborhood last Thursday night.

Cops said an off-duty officer was driving down Ponquogue Avenue around 1:30 a.m. on Thursday when he saw a black 2001 Ford Taurus driving westbound, on Fanning Avenue, with no headlights or license plate. The officer reportedly turned around and followed the car, notifying headquarters as the Taurus pulled northbound onto Ponquogue Avenue.

According to police, the car pulled into the King Kullen parking lot and two males proceeded to park the car and flee on foot from it, while the off-duty officer waited for back-up.

Cops impounded the vehicle and found out the car was stolen from a Fordham Drive home. Around 6:30 p.m., officers arrested 17-year-old Alexander Thomas, and about two-and-a-half hours later arrested Westhampton resident, 17-year-old Nicholas Turitto.

Thomas was additionally issued several vehicle and traffic violations, according to police.

This information was supplied by the Southampton Town Police Department. A criminal charge is only an accusation and does not indicate guilt.