A Queens man has been accused of impersonating a police officer to con jewelry stores into accepting fraudulent checks in exchange for gold necklaces worth more than $5,000 last month.
Nassau County police arrested Brian Harrington on charges of criminal possession weapon, criminal impersonation of a police officer and issuing bad checks.
Fourth Squad detectives alleged the 31-year-old Glendale man flashed a badge at the owner of Rafael’s Jewelry on Peninsula Boulevard in Hewlett on Aug. 15, told the victim he was a cop and asked to see a chain worth $2,965.
Harrington, who also flashed a gun holder in his belt, told the victim that he had lost his debit card and wanted to pay by check, which was later found to be made out from a closed account, police said.
Later the same day, Harrington allegedly pulled the same scam to get a $2,283 chain from Gulgattie Jewelry in Tri Count Flea Market on Hempstead Turnpike in Levittown.
Harrington was apprehended Wednesday in Elmont. He will be arraigned Thursday at First District Court in Hempstead.
