Sound Beach man charged in diamond-ring heists

Suffolk County police have arrested a Sound Beach man in a string of diamond-ring thefts, including two instances where he swapped replica rings in jewelry stores for the real things.

Sixth Squad detectives arrested John D. Cumbow, 29, of 20 Meadowbrook Dr., Sound Beach, on Tuesday evening and charged him with five counts of grand larceny and three counts of possession of a controlled substance.

Cumbow allegedly set up three meetings in January and February with sellers of rings after contacting them through the Web site Craigslist.

Twice during the meetings - at jewelry stores in Dix Hills and Sayville - he swapped replica rings for the real ones, police said. And another time, he took a ring and bolted from the store to a stolen pickup truck that was used for a getaway.

Cumbow's girlfriend, Amanda Carullo, 21, of 31 Castle Lane, Holtsville, also was arrested Tuesday in connection with two of the diamond-ring thefts, police said. She was charged with two counts of grand larceny.

Both were scheduled for arraignment Wednesday at First District Court in Central Islip.

Police also said Cumbow had two outstanding warrants, one for criminal possession of a hypodermic needle and another for criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Cumbow also was wanted for passing counterfeit $20 bills two years ago, police said, and was charged with criminal possession of a forged instrument.