By Zach Patberg
Incoronata Travaglione, 32, of 318 Beach 73rd St., was charged with grand larceny and criminal impersonation, police said.The plot involved calling the victims and promising them that a woman who worked at the Sears on Queens Boulevard could give them cheap high-end televisions. Looking for a deal, the three victims met with Travaglione outside of Sears last week and gave her money for the items, police said.”She would say, I'm going to take your money and you meet me down in the loading area in five minutes,” said the 112th Precinct's deputy inspector, John Philbin.Except the woman never showed and neither did the goods.Philbin said Travaglione escaped with $32,000.”Obviously these men were looking to buy more than one TV, probably for friends,” he said.The inspector said at least one other person was involved in the scam since the voice that made the actual phone calls to the victims was not Travaglione's.”We're hoping we'll get her and she'll give up the second person,” he said Tuesday prior to the arrest, adding that he was depending on help from the press and tips from residents to find the suspects.Philbin said a few similar cases occurred last year at the mall's Sears and Circuit City, but the suspects in those incidents were all male so a possible connection between them and last week's crimes was uncertain.”We don't know if it's the same group or just someone who took the idea and ran with it,” he said.A spokesman from Sears warned shoppers that “if you're not sure about an offer, always call the store and verify. And never give out your personal information.”Those with information can call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS. All calls are confidential.Reach reporter Zach Patberg by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 155.
