Teen Charged With Felony In TJ Maxx 'Quick Cash Scam' In Yorktown

YORKTOWN, NY - A 19-year-old Queens woman is facing felony charges related to a scam targeting a Westchester County retail store, according to police.

Alexandra Covaciu, of Sunnyside, has been charged with fourth-degree grand larceny after an investigation tied her to a theft at TJ Maxx, according to the Yorktown Police Department. She was arrested Nov. 4 and released with an appearance ticket directing her to appear in court on Nov. 17.

Yorktown police officers received a complaint on Oct. 25 about a grand larceny at TJ Maxx involving two suspects that police said occurred on Oct. 23. Police began investigating the two subjects, and Yorktown police were later notified by Greenburgh police that Greenburgh was conducting a similar investigation involving the same pair of suspects.

Investigators say the crew associated with Covaciu was part of as many as 44 different grand larceny incidents around the tri-state area using what police described as "quick-cash" scams.

On Nov. 4 at about 5:15 p.m., the Putnam County Sheriff's Office was notified by detectives from Yorktown and Greenburgh that the suspects were attempting to commit another "quick-cash" scam in Putnam County. The subjects were located and detained by the Putnam County Sheriff's Office, and Yorktown police officers arrived and arrested Covaciu at about 6 p.m.

Police said the other suspect was also arrested and transported to the Greenburgh Police Department for charges connected to that agency's case. Covaciu was taken to the Yorktown Police Department for processing.

The investigation is still ongoing, according to Yorktown police. In the release, the department also thanked the Greenburgh Police Department and the Putnam County Sheriff's Office for their assistance in the case.