A man walked out of the Nike store on West Main Street in Riverhead this summer with more than $1,000 worth of sneakers he never paid for, and police still haven't figured out who he is. Riverhead Town Police and Suffolk County Crime Stoppers are now appealing to the public for help identifying the suspect, with a cash reward on the table for anyone whose tip leads to an arrest.
According to News12, the man was caught on surveillance footage taking approximately $1,094 worth of Nike footwear before leaving the store without paying. The outlet reported that the theft happened around 12:30 p.m. on July 4, and that the suspect was described as wearing blue Nike shorts and sunglasses at the time. A separate account from Patch put the incident at about 12:40 p.m. that same day, a discrepancy that remains unresolved between the two reports.
Both accounts agree on where it happened: the Nike store at 1770 West Main St. in Riverhead. Police have not released the suspect's name, and no arrest has been announced. Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Riverhead Town Police are seeking the public's help to identify and locate a suspect, per Patch.
Cash Reward, Anonymous Tips
Anyone with information can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS, and calls remain anonymous. A cash reward is available for information that leads to an arrest. The organization also accepts tips through its online portal.
Not the First Time for This Nike Store
And on May 31, a man and woman allegedly made off with roughly $1,215 worth of merchandise from the Nike Factory Store, also around 1 p.m., according to tbrnewsmedia.com.
A man stole approximately $350 worth of merchandise from the Nike Factory Outlet at Tanger Outlets on Oct. 15, 2025, riverheadlocal.com reported.
Part of a Broader Long Island Trend
The Riverhead incidents fit into a wider pattern across the region. Suffolk County police received reports of 6,724 shoplifting incidents in 2024, a 4.8% decline from the 7,060 logged in 2023, according to Newsday. The department logged 3,188 shoplifting complaints in the first half of 2025, down 3% from the same period the prior year, the paper reported. Even with that dip, shoplifting complaints across both Nassau and Suffolk counties remain higher than pre-pandemic levels, Newsday notes.
For now, the identity of the man accused in the July 4 theft remains unknown, and investigators are counting on the public to fill in the gaps. Anyone with information is urged to call Suffolk County Crime Stoppers, where tips are accepted anonymously and a reward awaits information that leads to an arrest.
