John Cumbow
They may be a girl’s best friend, but diamonds have led to big trouble for a man and his girlfriend.
Suffolk police arrested 29-year-old John Cumbow of Sound Beach on Tuesday evening for five alleged diamond rings thefts over the past two months. Amanda Carullo, 21, of Holtsville, was implicated in two ring thefts, police said.
Cumbow was charged with five counts of grand larceny, and Carullo with two counts. Cumbow is also facing drug charges and had two warrants out for his arrest, police said.
Police say Cumbow contacted ring sellers on Craigslist.org where he set up meetings to have jewelry appraised and discuss prices. Twice during those meetings, he swapped fakes for the real rings and left before being noticed, police said. In a third case, he simply fled with the ring.
In the thefts at jewelry stores in both Dix Hills and Sayville, he would just grab the rings and run, police said. He sometimes allegedly used a stolen pickup truck as the getaway vehicle.
Carullo’s alleged role was not clear.
Amanda Carullo
Cumbow was additionally charged with three counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminal possession of a hypodermic needle, resisting arrest and criminal possession of stolen property.
He also had two outstanding warrants, one for criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal possession of a hypodermic needle. The other warrant was for allegedly passing counterfeit $20 bills two years ago, for which Cumbow was charged with criminal possession of a forged instrument.
Sixth Squad detectives are asking anyone who believes they may also have been victimized by Cumbow to contact them at 631-854-8652.
