SELF-SERVE SWINDLERS

Full-service employees at a Glendale gas station who allegedly helped themselves to thousands of dollars in proceeds were collared by police last Friday, Oct. 24 after investigators caught on to their scheme, it was reported.

Law enforcement sources said that Summeet Changari, 22, Navin Chintana, 21 and Divik Agrawal, 20—all residents of 81st Street in Ozone Park—took more than $3,600 combined in cash receipts from the Max Power gas station at 65-20 Cooper Ave.

Between Sept. 9 and Oct. 24, according to information provided by the Queens District Attorney's office, the three workers at the gas station allegedly pocketed monies gained from the sale of gasoline while on the job.

According to authorities, each of the employees, on various days during this timeframe, clocked out of their respective shifts twice each night.

On the first half of each night, it is alleged, the suspects pocketed the proceeds made at the gas station and reported to their employers only proceeds earned during the second half of their shift.

Based on information obtained by police in the course of their investigation, it was determined that the suspects allegedly perpetrated this scheme between two and three times a week.

In statements allegedly made to authorities by the suspects, law enforcement sources said, Changari and Agrawal allegedly admitted to taking between $2,000 and $3,000 in cash over the six-week period. Reportedly, Chintana confessed to pocketing $300 in proceeds.

Police began their investigation into the case after being alerted by the management of the gas station to an unexplained shortage of revenue following a review of the station's financial records.

Changari, Chintana and Agrawal were each arrested on Friday, Oct. 24 and charged in an over 40-count complaint with third- and fourthdegree grand larceny, criminal possession of a stolen property, falsifying business records and scheme to defraud.

All three defendants were arraigned in Queens Criminal Court on Saturday, Oct. 25 and released on their own recognizance, according to a spokesperson for District Attorney Richard A. Brown. They are scheduled to return to court on Nov. 18.

The investigation was conducted by members of the Patrol Borough Queens North Task Force, it was noted.