Skip to main content

Fourth Defendant Sentenced in Handbag Heist

Thu, 01/19/2023 - 10:17
Durell Godfrey

For her role in the March 2022 heist at the luxury retail store Balenciaga in East Hampton Village, Baseemah Davis of Newark, N.J., has been sentenced to two to six years in prison, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney announced Tuesday.

“Each of the involved defendants arrested in this particular organized retail theft ring has now pleaded guilty and will serve significant sentences in state prison, which is a just consequence for their selfish and dangerous actions,” Mr. Tierney said in announcing the sentence.

Ms. Davis, 34, was charged with second-degree criminal possession of stolen property, a felony, and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor. She was one of five people accused of stealing $94,000 worth of expensive handbags from Balenciaga, then leading police cars on a high-speed pursuit in a Dodge Durango that ended with a foot chase on the Long Island Expressway.

Three of the other thieves have already been sentenced on similar charges. Wazir Rodgers, 25, and Ali Harris, 29, both of Newark, were each sentenced to three to nine years in prison. Jamal Johns,

26, who had prior criminal convictions on his record for burglary, bail-jumping, and grand larceny, received a sentence of three and a half to seven years.

One other person involved in the theft, who allegedly was the one to distract the store’s sales clerk on the day of the heist, remains at large. Mr. Tierney said authorities are still searching for her. Her identity has not been revealed.

Bostwick’s Burglar Charged and Sentenced

An East Quogue man police say broke into Bostwick’s on Pantigo Road last May was charged with third-degree burglary early Friday morning, and sentenced later that day to four years’ probation for a string of other burglaries from Southampton to East Hampton.

Feb 12, 2026

On the Logs 02.12.26

An appliance repair man from Mastic Beach told police on Feb. 3 that he’d been harassed over the phone by a Montauk homeowner’s son after he ran late to repair a washing machine.

Feb 12, 2026

Charged in May Burglary at Bostwick’s

A man police allege broke into Bostwick’s Chowder House on Pantigo Road in May was charged with burglary in the third degree early on Friday.

Feb 6, 2026

Eye a Public Safety Center in Montauk

East Hampton Town will acquire a parcel in Montauk’s downtown on which a multi-department public safety center housing the town’s police, Marine Patrol, Code Enforcement, and East Hampton Volunteer Ocean Rescue operations is planned, it was announced this week.

Feb 5, 2026

 

Your support for The East Hampton Star helps us deliver the news, arts, and community information you need. Whether you are an online subscriber, get the paper in the mail, delivered to your door in Manhattan, or are just passing through, every reader counts. We value you for being part of The Star family.

Your subscription to The Star does more than get you great arts, news, sports, and outdoors stories. It makes everything we do possible.