The Suffolk County Police Department found that two men intentionally set a series of fires at power stations, at Long Island sites between August 20 and February 5, to cover up burglaries they were staging at commercial businesses. The two thieves, Frank Costa, 54, and Jon Pucci, 29, were picked up and arrested in Centereach on February 10. They are due back in court on March 19 and March 12, respectively.
According to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office, Costa and Pucci are accused of at least nine burglaries, mostly at gas stations, as well as grocery stores, a laundromat and a deli. Three PSEG Long Island substations were set on fire in order to distract law enforcement with power outages: the first target was along Nesconset Highway in Setauket on August 20, 2023; the second on Middle Country Road in Centereach on September 16, 2023; and the most recent was at the Medford/Yaphank substation on Manor Road on February 5.
Each of the two has been hit with a long list of charges, including illegal possession of a weapon, three counts of criminal mischief, criminal possession of stolen property and three counts of arson. On top of that, when they were arrested they were found with money in their pockets that they had just stolen from an ATM at a Shell gas station in Ridge.
“These alleged criminal acts have not only caused extensive damage, but have also put the lives of Suffolk County residents and first responders at risk,” District Attorney Raymond Tierney said. Costa is due back in court on March 19 and Pucci on March 12.
