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$5,000 reward offered for return of stolen classic car

COURTESY PHOTO | This 1965 Plymouth Belvedere was reported stolen Monday night in Riverhead.

The owner of a classic 1965 Plymouth Belvedere that was reported stolen from a parking lot in Riverhead Monday night is now offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the return of his car.

James Spanos of Cutchogue said he parked his car in downtown Riverhead in the riverfront parking lot between 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. and had dinner at Cody’s BBQ. After dinner, Mr. Spanos said he went across the street to Green Earth Grocery.

When he returned, his car was gone, Mr. Spanos said.

The car was locked and it had a car alarm, he said.

“I’m really upset about it,” Mr. Spanos said. “That car was my baby.”

Mr. Spanos, who is a volunteer with the Greenport Fire Department, said he bought the car about five years ago, but the car has been on the North Fork its entire life. It only has about 40,000 miles on it, he said.

Mr. Spanos said the White family of Orient bought it brand new in 1965 from Mullen Motors in Southold.

“They only drove it to church on Sundays,” Mr. Spanos said. The car was then sold to another North Fork family that used it sparingly and kept it covered and in a garage before selling it to him.

“I’m really distraught about my car,” Mr. Spanos said.

He is offering a $5,000 reward to anyone who can provide information that leads to the car’s return and is asking anyone with information to his email him at [email protected].

The Riverhead Police Department is also seeking information leading to the return of the car and the arrest of whoever stole it.

Police are asking anyone with information about the car theft to call the detective division at (631) 727-4500 or write to:

Riverhead Police Department
Attention Detective Division
210 Howell Avenue
Riverhead, NY 11901

[email protected]

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the car was unlocked.