Nassau County, N.Y. – A wallpaper installer has been arrested for stealing tens of thousands of dollars worth of designer watches from the homes where he worked, police said.
Garden City and Old Westbury police departments have teamed up to investigate watch thefts that occurred between April 2022 and January 2023.
Jaiver Ricardo Velez Gomes, 43, of Massapequa, was hired to wallpaper three homes in Garden City and one in Old Westbury, police said. While at home, police said he took a designer watch worth tens of thousands of dollars. From April 2022 to December he stole watches worth a total of $60,000 from his three homes in Garden City, and in January he stole watches worth $20,000 from his Westbury home. stolen, police said.
Gomez was arrested on Jan. 13 after a joint investigation by Garden City and Old Westbury police departments.
Gomez has been charged with four counts of third degree grand theft. He appeared in Hempstead 1st District Court on Saturday and was released on his own accord.
Police are asking anyone they believe may have been Gomez’s victim to call the Nassau County Crime Stopper at 1-800-244-TIPS or call 911. All callers remain anonymous.