State Police have taken Steven D. Vitalo, a 29-year-old resident of Herkimer, into custody on November 3 on charges of third-degree grand larceny, a class “D” felony, and second-degree falsifying business records, a class “A” misdemeanor.
The arrest follows an investigation into thefts at a local Lowe’s store.
According to authorities, Vitalo is accused of bypassing payment for multiple items while using the self-checkout at the Lowe’s in Herkimer, amounting to a theft of $5,521.
Investigations further revealed that Vitalo engaged in fraudulent activities by swapping barcodes to pay less for certain goods, effectively falsifying business records in the process.
Following his arraignment in Herkimer Town Court, Vitalo was released on his own recognizance and is scheduled to reappear in court on November 21 at 6:00 p.m. The case continues to draw attention to vulnerabilities in self-checkout systems and the importance of vigilant loss prevention strategies.
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