A Connecticut man thought of an inventive way to steal jewelry: using his mouth as a hiding spot.
Joseph Castro was arrested Thursday by Nassau County detectives. He was charged with two counts of grand larceny in the third degree and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree.
Castro hit two jewelry stores in Bellmore and Massapequa for a total of nine rings, collectively valued at over $22,000, between Sept. 9 and Sept. 28, police said.
He pretended to be interested in purchasing a ring both times to distract employees before he allegedly hid the rings in his mouth. The losses were determined during an inventory, police said.
Authorities said Castro entered a third jewelry store at a mall near Sunrise Highway on Tuesday, but was foiled when he was recognized by store employees, who then alerted police. He was arrested by officers at the scene.
Officers discovered the 52-year-old with heroin at the time of his arrest, authorties said.
Detectives ask anyone who may have been victimized by Castro to notify the Seventh Squad at 517-573-6756.
