An 18-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the theft of religious items, according to the Spring Valley Police Department.
Police said that on December 2, 2025, at around 9:05 a.m., a Spring Valley Police patrol officer observed a male known to him as Jose Villacinda-Najera, 18, in the area of 55 North Myrtle Avenue carrying a tallis and tefillin bag bearing another individual’s name. The officer approached Villacinda-Najera to question him about the items. Villacinda-Najera stated that he had found the tallis and tefillin along with several other items that did not belong to him and voluntarily turned all of the items over to the officer.
Following further investigation, police were able to identify and locate the rightful owner of the tallis and tefillin, and the religious items were returned. The owner reported that an unknown individual had entered his vehicle and stolen the tallis and tefillin. The case was referred to the Spring Valley Police Department Detective Bureau for further investigation.
As a result of that investigation, Villacinda-Najera was arrested on December 13, 2025, and charged with Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class D felony, and Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Third Degree, also a Class D felony.
Police emphasized that a criminal complaint is merely an accusation and that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The Spring Valley Police Department is asking anyone with information related to this incident to contact the department at 845-356-7400 or by email at tips@villagespringvalley.org.