WESTFIELD – While working your way through college is laudable,
stealing your way through college – not so much.
City police report that a criminal justice student, Steven D. Larkin, 24, of 919 Southampton Road, was arrested after he admitted stealing a cellphone valued at almost $700 from the Walmart store on Springfield Road where he worked.
A store asset protection employee had called police early Monday afternoon to report that an employee had admitted stealing from the store.
Officer Harry Sienkiewicz responded and reports that he was told that Larkin had originally denied stealing anything that day but, upon further questioning, admitted stealing to the employee and repeated his admission after Sienkiewicz arrived at the store.
He was arrested for larceny of property valued more than $250.
While in custody, Larkin indicated to police that he wanted to speak with a detective and he was interviewed by Det. Anthony Tsatsos.
Tsatsos reports that Larkin said that he did not want to go to jail and confessed that he had stolen other merchandise – valued at about $13,000 – during the year he worked in the electronics department at the store.
Tsatsos reports that additional charges are pending the conclusion of his investigation.
Larkin’s Facebook page states that he is majoring in criminal justice at Westfield State University. He is expecting to graduate in May.
He was arraigned later on Monday before Judge Philip A. Contant for the larceny of the cellphone and was released on his personal recognizance pending a June 26 hearing.
