WESTFIELD – The two defendants charged with stealing a Boys and Girls Club money donation box from a Dunkin’ Donuts in July had their cases disposed of in Westfield District Court Wednesday.
Guillermina Vega, 44, of 44 Mechanic St., had the charges of larceny from a building dismissed while her co-defendant, Jose Vargas, 51, of the same address, was placed on 90-days probation, suspended till June 16, 2016, after he pleaded guilty to larceny from building, which was amended to larceny under $250.
Vargas was also ordered to pay $10 in restitution to the Boys and Girls Club – the amount in the collection box that he had stolen.
Westfield Police Det. Timothy Fanion responded to a call from the Dunkin’ Donuts on Elm Street at 9:34 p.m. June 10 for report of a larceny, according to court records.
An employee told Fanion that a woman, whom he knew as “Karen” (Guillermina Vega), came into Dunkin’ Donuts with a man and allegedly took a Boys and Girls Club money donation box.
Surveillance footage was used to identify Vargas by matching his image to his Registry of Motor Vehicles’ photo and by finding that his address is the same as Vega’s.
Vega is seen in the video moving the box, which was on the counter, out of the employee’s view and Vargas is seen putting the box in his bag. Then the couple left the establishment together, according to court records.
The Dunkin’ Donuts employee stated that the box contained approximately $10 at the time of the theft, according to court records.
Staff Writer Christine Charnosky can be reached at [email protected]
