Police seek suspect who used stolen card at Ronkonkoma deli

A wallet left behind at a Ronkonkoma deli before sunrise became the focus of a grand larceny case, with Suffolk County police asking for help identifying the man who allegedly took cash and credit cards from it.

Detectives said the victim left his wallet inside Lakoma Bagel & Deli, 2828 Pond Road, at about 5:45 a.m. on December 7, 2025. According to police, another man allegedly found the wallet, removed cash and credit cards, and left the store. Suffolk County Police Fourth Squad detectives are handling the investigation as grand larceny.

Police have not released a description of the suspect. Instead, investigators and Suffolk County Crime Stoppers are using a public appeal to try to identify the man and track down the stolen cards before the trail goes cold.

The case highlights how quickly a lost wallet can turn into a broader fraud problem. A stolen card can be used within minutes, and each transaction can add another layer of difficulty for the victim as charges are disputed and accounts are reviewed. In this case, police say the theft began with a wallet left behind at a neighborhood deli and escalated into the removal of cash and credit cards.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling 1-800-220-TIPS, using the P3 Tips mobile app, or visiting P3Tips.com. Crime Stoppers of Suffolk County says it was created in 1994 and says rewards of up to $5,000 may be available when a tip leads to an arrest.

The appeal was being circulated across Suffolk County after local outlets reported the case on April 13, 2026. For detectives, the hope is that someone who recognized the man at Lakoma Bagel & Deli, or who knows where the stolen cards were used, will come forward and help close the case.