Three charged in Hewlett copper thefts

Three Far Rockaway men were arrested on Dec. 23 and charged in multiple thefts of copper wiring from trucks at the PSEG substation at 1157 West Broadway in Hewlett.
At 2:07 p.m. on that Wednesday, a PSEG employee saw the men, Shawn V. Boogaertswhite, 51, and Joseph Foster, 29, both of Beach Channel Drive, and
Andrew Strowder Jr., 55 of Cornaga Avenue, putting the wiring into a 1999 Ford Econoline van parked inside the substation property, police said.
After the van left the site, the employee called 911. Police stopped the vehicle on West Broadway in Woodmere and arrested the men. Further investigation found that the men had stolen copper wiring four previous times beginning in October, according to police. In total, the men allegedly stole wiring valued at more than $8,000.
Foster was charged with two counts of petit larceny, criminal mischief fourth-degree and two counts of criminal trespass. Boogaertswhite was charged with three counts of grand larceny fourth-degree, two counts of petit larceny, criminal mischief fourth-degree, four counts of criminal trespass third-degree and several vehicle and traffic law violations. Strowder was charged with two counts of grand larceny fourth-degree, two counts of petit larceny, criminal mischief fourth-degree and three counts of criminal trespass third-degree.