RIVERHEAD MAN SENTENCED TO 2.5 TO 5 YEARS IN PRISON FOR BURGLARIZING LOWE’S HOME IMPROVEMENT STORE

(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Terry Smith, 60, of Riverhead, was sentenced to two and a half to five years in prison for burglarizing a Riverhead Lowe’s Home Improvement Store in 2021.

“Retail theft will not be tolerated in Suffolk County,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Suffolk County residents and business owners can rest easy knowing that justice was served for a crime with damaging effects on our quality of life and economy. It is important for the community to know that those caught burglarizing and stealing from businesses, like this defendant, will be held responsible for their actions. My Office is not only dedicated to the safety and well-being of all our communities, but also to seeking and obtaining justice and accountability for every crime.”

According to the investigation and the defendant’s admissions during his plea allocution, on November 10, 2021 and on November 25, 2021, Smith stole several items and burglarized the Lowe’s Home Improvement Store on Old Country Road in Riverhead.

On November 10, 2021, Smith stole numerous home improvement items from the store including hedge trimmers, spray gun kits, and a chainsaw having a value in excess of $3,000. Smith was captured on surveillance video exiting the store without paying for the items, with the items in a store shopping cart.

On November 25, 2021, Smith returned to the Lowe’s Home Improvement Store and broke in by smashing the sliding glass entry doors with a metal beam. After the glass doors were shattered, Smith entered the location and stole multiple power tools. Smith quickly escaped but was again caught on surveillance video.

Following the commission of these crimes, an investigation took place and Smith was swiftly located, identified, and placed under arrest. At the time of his arrest, Smith was wearing the same pants that he was observed wearing in the surveillance video during the burglary on November 25, 2021.

On May 16, 2023, Smith pleaded guilty before Acting Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Richard I. Horowitz, to Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class D felony, and Burglary in the Third Degree, a Class D felony. On June 14, 2023, Judge Horowitz sentenced Smith to two and a half years to five years in prison. Smith was represented by John Halverson, Esq.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Maria Troulakis and Alexander Bopp of the Major Crime Bureau.

###

Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments.

Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.

725 Veterans Memorial Highway ● Building 77 ● Hauppauge, NY 11788 ● 631.852.3185

SuffolkCountyNY.gov/DA ● twitter.com/RayTierneyDA ● instagram.com/RayTierneyDA