Port Jeff man charged in air-conditioner thefts

A man who had been a suspect in a rash of commercial air conditioning thefts in Suffolk County dating back to October was charged with selling them for scrap, police said Tuesday.

Keith McCann, 29, of 25 Sands Lane, Port Jefferson, was stopped for a vehicle and traffic law violation Sunday on Route 112 in Port Jefferson Station, police said.

McCann was found to be driving with a suspended license and had three warrants on prior accusations of driving with a suspended license.

After he was arrested, McCann was questioned about his role in the thefts of at least 10 commercial air conditioning units from businesses in Port Jefferson Station, Selden and Centereach, and the vandalism of three other units, police said. Police said he confessed to all the offenses.

Police said McCann sold the copper, brass and aluminum in the units as scrap for about $15,000 between October and May 3.

The units were worth "much more" than that amount, police said Tuesday.

Police said that McCann was once employed as an air conditioning specialist.

Sixth Squad detectives charged McCann with seven counts of third-degree grand larceny, three counts of fourth-degree grand larceny and three counts of criminal mischief.

Third-degree grand larceny is the charge for stealing an item or items worth more than $3,000 but less than $50,000, police said.

Fourth-degree grand larceny is for a theft of items worth less than $3,000, police said.

McCann was scheduled for arraignment Tuesday in First District Court in Central Islip.