NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — A man accused of stealing over $1 million in musical instruments from the Long Island music shop where he worked was recently arrested for the high-value robbery, Nassau County police announced Thursday.
Manuel Alvarez, 61, was employed at Kolstein Music Inc. in Baldwin when he allegedly removed assorted items and instruments without permission on the afternoon of May 8.
Police said that Alvarez took the instruments to an unknown location in Florida.
Alvarez was located after an extensive investigation and placed under arrest, officials said. He is charged with burglary, grand larceny and criminal facilitation.
At his arraignment in Hempstead on Wednesday, Alvarez pleaded not guilty to all charges and was released on non-monetary conditions, court records show. He is expected back in court on June 6.
Kolstein’s first opened in 1943 in Brooklyn, and moved to Baldwin in 1980. The shop specializes in string instruments like the violin, viola, cello and bass, selling some for tens of thousands of dollars. Rentals, accessories and bows are also available at the shop.