After theft, Angels of Long Island thrift store in Patchogue gets support

A popular nonprofit thrift store, which often provides free food, clothing and baby supplies to low-income families, is in need of its own help his week after a woman allegedly stole $1,600 from the shop that was intended for rent and salaries.

Debbie Loesch, owner of the Angels of Long Island store on East Main Street, said the theft will make it a challenge to pay the rent and salaries of her staff this month.

But members of the Patchogue community are rallying behind the shop — which sells discounted items donated by the public and often conducts free giveaways of baby formula, school supplies, coats and meals — raising money for the organization.

"It's very touching that they care enough," Loesch said of the fundraising effort.

The theft occurred around 12:40 p.m. Monday as Loesch left her office and went to the back of the shop to unload boxes of diapers that would be distributed free to the public the following day. 

Loesch said her daughter Brittany, who helps run Angels of Long Island, informed her that she noticed a woman leaving her office. When Loesch went to her office, she found cash envelopes, intended for the bank, missing, along with rolled coins for the cash register, her personal debit card and jewelry from the shelves, she said.

Store employees called the police and the panicked suspect was seen on surveillance video throwing $1,200 in stolen cash under a clothing rack moments before she was detained, Loesch said.

While Loesch was able to recover much of the stolen property, $1,600 is still missing, she said. Loesch believes the suspect may have passed the money off to a second woman she was seen speaking to on the surveillance video. That second woman, Loesch said, was seen on surveillance leaving the store with a black pocketbook that she did not pay for.

Loesch was forced to close the store for the rest of the day to look for the missing money — costing her another roughly $1,500 in potential sales.

"Every month is difficult," she said. "We have to sell a lot of clothes for $3 to make our overhead, which is $18,000 every month without payroll."

Patchogue-Medford High School senior Emily Volpe, 16, said she was heartbroken to learn of the theft and wanted to help, starting a GoFundMe page that has raised nearly $3,000.

"I appreciate what Angels of Long Island does for the community," said Volpe, whose family has donated items to the thrift shop. "I've done fundraisers for the school a few times and Debbie has always contributed and been super helpful. I just thought it was important to help." 

Maria Gutierrez-Monterey, 40, of Westhampton, was charged with two counts of fourth-degree grand larceny and issued a desk appearance ticket. Efforts to reach Gutierrez-Monterey's attorney were not successful.

Loesch said the suspect has attended some of her free giveaways.

"That's what hurt the most," Loesch said. "She shops here often and … we've helped her in the past. And if she needed anything; if she needed food for her family, she could ask anyone on my staff of volunteers. We want to help. But the fact that she robbed us was really hurtful."

Gutierrez-Monterey is due back in court Oct. 14.

By Robert Brodsky

robert.brodsky@newsday.com@BrodskyRobert

Robert Brodsky is a breaking news reporter who has worked at Newsday since 2011. He is a Queens College and American University alum.