2 arrested in Mastic heating oil thefts

Left, Frank Dawson, 46 of Medford, and right, Towania McCrae,... — Left, Frank Dawson, 46 of Medford, and right, Towania McCrae, 44 of Mastic, have been charged in the theft of home heating oil from vacant houses in Mastic. (Feb. 2, 2013) Credit: SCPD

By JENNIFER BARRIOSjennifer.barrios@newsday.comFebruary 3, 2013

Two people were arrested on Saturday night in the theft of home heating oil from eight vacant homes in Mastic, Suffolk County police said.

Police said officers saw Frank Dawson, 46, of Medford, and Towania McCrae, 44, of Mastic, pumping home heating oil from a vacant home on Hampton Avenue in Mastic and into three storage tanks in the back of Dawson's pickup truck at 10:15 p.m.

After Dawson was arrested, police said, he then took officers to seven other vacant homes in Mastic where he said he had stolen oil.

Dawson was charged with eight counts of petit larceny, one count of third-degree criminal trespass and one count of possession of burglar's tools. McCrae was charged with petit larceny and possession of burglar's tools.

The two were issued appearance tickets and are scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on April 3.