- Authorities dismantled two criminal rings in Long Island accused of stealing 500,000 pounds of clothing from charity donation bins, depriving vulnerable populations of aid.
- Sixteen suspects (including at least eight undocumented individuals) were arrested after a year-long probe (November 2024 to September 2025). Alleged ringleaders Alfredo Perez and Manuel Cabrera led crews in 70+ theft incidents.
- Thieves climbed into bins – sometimes in broad daylight – to pass clothing to accomplices, later selling stolen goods on the black market for $90,000. Lost revenue is estimated to be $750,000.
- The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SSVP), a Catholic aid group, suffered severe losses until surveillance exposed the thefts. Post-arrest, donations rose 50 percent – but most stolen items remain missing.
- Officials condemned the exploitation of goodwill, charging suspects with grand larceny, burglary and conspiracy. SSVP now seeks better bin security to prevent future thefts.
Authorities in Long Island have dismantled two criminal rings accused of systematically stealing an estimated 500,000 pounds of clothing from charity donation bins.
The Suffolk County District Attorney's (DA) Office announced the arrest of 16 suspects on Thursday, Oct. 9. Of the 16, at least eight are alleged to be in the U.S. illegally. The arrests following a nearly year-long investigation into the thefts that spanned from November 2024 to September 2025.
The operation, which officials described as a massive burglary and theft enterprise, targeted bins operated by organizations like the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SSVP). The thefts siphoned resources meant for the poor and homeless, directing them for sale on a lucrative secondary market.
The scheme unraveled after SSVP officials noticed a substantial and troubling reduction in the amount of clothing they collected from their bins across Suffolk County. This prompted an investigation that revealed crews were methodically targeting approximately eight locations repeatedly.
According to Brighteon.AI's Enoch, the SSVP is a Catholic charitable organization that assists the poor and elderly, often through visits and material aid.
Surveillance footage captured the audacious method. Individuals climbed into the donation bins through the deposit slots, sometimes during overnight hours and other times in broad daylight, to pass bags of clothing out to accomplices. The loot was then transported to a rented storage location before being sold.
"You thought you've seen everything," Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said. "Could you believe people would steal from a clothing bin and they'd figured out a way to make money?"
The great donation heist: Burglars betray the needy
Authorities identified the alleged ringleaders as Alfredo Perez, 67, of Copiague, and Manuel Cabrera, 62, of Lindenhurst. The two crews are accused of carrying out more than 70 incidents, loading stolen clothing into vans for resale. All 16 defendants have pleaded not guilty to charges including grand larceny, burglary and conspiracy.
Suffolk Country DA Ray Tierney remarked that the "massive burglary and theft operation" saw roughly 280,000 pounds of the stolen clothing being sold to a black market exporter for approximately $90,000. The charity itself estimates the total loss in potential revenue at $750,000, funds critical for its operations. "Obviously and in essence, in stealing from [the SSVP], these individuals stole from our most needy individuals of our society," Tierney stated.
This case highlights a perverse inversion of charity, where goods intended for societal benefit are commodified in a shadow economy. The thefts represent more than a simple loss of property; they signify a breach of community trust.
"Donation bins are placed in our communities as a gesture of goodwill, intended to help those in need," said Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina. "Unfortunately, these criminals exploited that generosity, stealing donations and profiting at the expense of others."
Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. echoed the sentiment. "By these thieves targeting donation bins, they stole from vulnerable residents and from the organizations that work tirelessly to support them," he noted.
In the wake of the arrests, the SSVP has reported a 50 percent increase in donations, a heartening community response to the criminal exposure. The organization is now actively exploring ways to make its donation boxes more secure against future theft. While law enforcement has recovered 25,000 pounds of clothing and 14 vans, the vast majority remains missing, a stark reminder of how easily goodwill can be undermined by criminal enterprise.
Watch this Newsmax report about similar arrests being made in New Jersey, this time targeting an auto theft ring.
This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.
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