Long Island man accused of stealing 40 clothing bins in charity scam

(CBS/WCBS) LINDENHURST, N.Y. - A Long Island man is accused of stealing up to 40 bins used to collect clothing for legitimate charities, and using them for donations to himself.

Suffolk County police arrested 29-year-old Cesar Antonio Marinez-Duran after he allegedly repainted the bins and used them to collect clothes that he then sold at a profit, reports CBS New York. 

Police reportedly said the fake bins are now scattered across Long Island bearing the name "Donations International Helping Hand."

CBS New York reports that on Tuesday, the alleged scam was discovered after Breast Cancer Inc. reported two of its clothing donation bins stolen from parking lots. The bins were outfitted with GPS devices, allowing police to track them to a home in Lindenhurst where they found two other clothing bins in the process of being stripped and repainted.

Martinez-Duran has been charged with criminal possession of stolen property, criminal mischief and on an outstanding warrant, CBS New York reports.

Another man, 46-year-old Sergio Sandoval-Martinez, was also charged with criminal mischief for allegedly altering the bins.