Image Credit: Suffolk County District Attorney 
Authorities in New York smashed theft rings involved in stealing half a million pounds of donated clothing from bins across Long Island in recent months.
On Thursday, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office announced the arrests of 16 suspects, at least half of whom are in the country illegally.
An investigation was launched after officials from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul noticed a “substantial and troubling reduction in the amount of clothing they picked up from bins here on Long Island,” Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney stated during a press conference.
The suspects reportedly targeted donation receptacles operated by various organizations across the county, removing their contents and loading the loot into waiting vehicles between November 2024 and September 2025.
“There were approximately eight locations they would hit over and over again,” DA Tierney explained. “Once they got the clothes, they would bring them back to a storage location, which was rented, and then they would be sold on the secondary market.”
Surveillance footage shows men climbing into charity bins and passing bags of items out to their accomplices, often during the overnight hours, but sometimes in broad daylight.
Investigators estimate roughly 500,000 pounds of donated clothing were stolen during the “massive burglary and theft operation,” but only 25,000 pounds have been recovered thus far.
Ringleaders of two gangs have been identified as Alfredo Perez, 67, and Manuel Cabrera, 62, and 14 more suspects have been charged, eight of whom have been identified as illegal aliens.
All 16 have pleaded not guilty.
“Donation bins are placed in our communities as a gesture of goodwill, intended to help those in need,” said Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina.
“Unfortunately, these criminals exploited that generosity, stealing donations and profiting at the expense of others.”
Roughly 280,000 pounds of clothing were sold to a black market exporter for around $90,000, authorities say.
