Cops And Robbers: For Real

A Theft And A Subterfuge

A construction worker who, according the East Hampton Village police, admitted stealing a $30,000 engagement ring and selling it for $200 was released on his own recognizance Sunday, after he cooperated with police in a ruse that ended in the arrest of the alleged buyer.

Jeffry R. Simek, 38, of Swamp Road, East Hampton, has been charged with felony grand larceny in the theft of the 3.5-karat diamond ring. Antoine Harold, 36, of Scuttlehole Road, Bridgehampton, who police said bought the ring, was charged with felony criminal possession of stolen property and remained in county jail at press time in lieu of $500 bail.

Paul and Suzanne Ryan of Carriage Court discovered the loss of the ring and other jewelry last Thursday, but did not immediately report it to police.

Piece By Piece

Instead, they told their contractor about it. Almost immediately thereafter, Mrs. Ryan told The Star Tuesday, Mr. Simek, who had been work ing in the basement, mysteriously began "finding" pieces of the missing jewelry around the house, one by one, "in places I knew I had looked."

She said she was hoping all the missing items would be returned if she did not involve the police. "I was thinking, just please give me my stuff back," she said.

On Saturday, however, Mr. Simek did not show up for work. The engagement ring, the most valuable of the stolen items, was still missing, and at that point the Ryans called police.

In The Basement

The couple, who moved into the house in September and have not yet fully unpacked, told village police the jewelry had been kept in a piece of luggage in the basement.

Mr. Simek was brought in for questioning. According to Chief Glen Stonemetz, he admitted taking the ring and other jewelry, saying he had been in the basement painting when he found it.

He had spilled paint on a piece of luggage, Mr. Simek allegedly told police, and tried to clean it off. Finding the valise was heavy, he told police, he looked inside and discovered the jewelry.

According to police, he said he had sold the ring for $200 to Mr. Harold.

Marked Bills

On Sunday, village police and the Southampton Town street crime unit were staked out when Mr. Simek allegedly met Mr. Harold at a Sag Harbor cemetery to buy the ring back. Police watched while the purchase, with marked bills, went forward.

Mr. Harold was arrested not long afterward at Huntington Crossway and the Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike.

Both men were charged on Sunday afternoon and held overnight for arraignment in East Hampton Town Justice Court. Mr. Simek was given a February court date.

Police are holding the engagement ring as evidence. Mrs. Ryan said she was relieved that it had been recovered.

"The good thing was that we got the engagement ring back, which had so much sentimental value. It could not be replaced no matter what was done."

On Tuesday, Mrs. Ryan reported that her family had discovered more items missing from the house. Police said yesterday that they had recovered a number of them, and think they know where the others are.

Missing Cash

Also in the village last week, a woman who reported the late-December theft of $240 from her Pantigo Road, East Hampton, residence was herself arrested in the crime.

Michelle Dellapolla, 29, was charged last Thursday with two misdemeanors, petty larceny and making a false statement. Police said the money belonged to Ms. Dellapolla's housemate, Patricia Corbey, and that Ms. Dellapolla herself had taken it.

Ms. Dellapolla had reported the theft after being away from the house for two days. She told police she had left the doors locked, but found a sliding door unlocked upon her return and the cash missing from a locked box in a bedroom closet.

She was released on her own re cognizance.

Also arrested by village police last week was Vincent Gentile of Massapequa, 40, on a 1993 warrant stemming from a charge of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Mr. Gentile, who police said never answered the charge, was given a new court date.