Kids & Family

Glen Cove Shows Heart: Donor Helps Elderly Couple

An anonymous donor has replaced the $50,000 stolen from a couple's safe, police say.

A good samaritan has stepped in to lend a helping hand to an Glen Cove elderly couple whose life savings were stolen during a distraction burglary earlier in February, authorities said.

An anonymous person donated $50,000 – the amount the couple lost in the burglary – to the couple, according to Glen Cove Police Det. Lt. John Nagle.

The burglary occurred on Feb. 4 at about 1:30 p.m., when a resident, 85, answered the door, and a man walked in, and led her to the back door. The woman’s husband woke up from a nap and joined them at the back door, when a second man entered the house. Both had walkie-talkies, and discussed yard work. They left shortly after in a silver or gray four-door pickup truck. At this time, the husband realized that the safe, containing his life-savings, was missing.

Find out what's happening in Oyster Bayfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Sign up for your local Patch newsletter and breaking news alerts here.

Since hearing the news, Glen Cove community members had begun fundraising to try to help the couple, but Nagle said that while that effort was greatly appreciated, it is no longer warranted.

“The family wants everyone to know that they do not require any more donations,” Nagle told Patch, adding that the couple was still in shock from the incident.

Find out what's happening in Oyster Bayfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

“They do want everyone who contacted them to know that they appreciate their goodwill and are so appreciative of the community support at their time of loss,” he said.

Despite the incident, Nagle said, the couple are “proud Glen Cove residents, and they love their community.”

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Oyster Bay