$20K in stolen perfume and makeup at L.I. Ulta store, $10K in clothes at Marshalls leads to arrest

A serial L.I. shoplifting suspect is behind bars.

Nassau County Police arrested Magdalena Samsin, 40, after she was identified as the suspect who allegedly emptied cases of luxury fragrances and cosmetics at Ulta beauty stores on Long Island.

A Brooklyn woman is being held on a dozen Misdemeanor and Felony shoplifting charges at Ulta, Marshall's and TJ Maxx stores on L.I.Photo byC.J. Teevan

Samsin pleaded "Not Guilty" to Felony Larceny charges at her arraignment the next da.

Investigators say Samsin swiped items off shelves and counters at Ulta stores in Syosset, Massapequa and Levittown, again and again, evading security even as she was caught on camera exiting with thousands of dollars in unpaid merchandise.

Samsin allegedly took off with another $10,000 in merchandise from TJ Maxx and Marshall's stores over a 10 month period.

The Ulta beauty supplies store in Syosset.Photo byC.J. Teevan

Felony charges against Samsin going back to August 4, 2023, through June 28 were filed after she was positively identified on store surveillance videos walking out the door – sometimes with different male companions – with merchandise that was scooped up and stuffed in a bag.

Investigators hunted for Samsin for months. They got their break when NYPD detectives recognized her from prior criminal cases.

Court records state that NYPD detectives were able to "positively identify" Samsin as the woman they had "previously arrested" June 26, 2020, in connection with "other incidents in the confines of New York City" according to the Felony Complaint.

Police say Samsin stole thousands of dollars of high priced perfumes and colognes on Ulta shelves.Photo byC.J. Teevan

Police said Samsin identified herself in security videos during questioning by Nassau County detectives, describingsecurity videos that show Samsin exiting a store with small bottles of expensive perfumes and gift boxes.

Merchandise valued at $750, $2520, $667, $1800, $1872, $1263, $1641, and $1158 allegedly disappeared from the Massapequa Ulta store alone. They said $1641 worth of perfumes and gift box sets vanished on May 28, 2024, from the Ulta store on Jericho Turnpike in Syosset.

But Samsin’s biggest hit was her alleged visit to the Ulta store on Hempstead Turnpike in Levittown on August 17, 2023, say police. According to the Felony complaint, Samsin arrived at the store with a "male black subject wearing dark colored hoodie, white t-shirt, dark colored fitted hat and dark colored pants." The duo exited with what Ulta management says was $8719 worth of MAC makeup.

TJ Maxx in New Hyde Park was listed as scene of another visit by accused shoplifter Magdalena Samsin.Photo byC.J. Teevan

Police say Samsin also went shoplifting at the Marshall’s, visiting the Elmont store on Hempstead Turnpike, allegedly picking out clothes and stuffing them into a bag before leaving the store without paying for them.

Samsin allegedly also swiped handbags worth $679.93 off the rack on May 9 at TJ Maxx in New Hyde Park.

The sprees described in court filings racked up more than $30,000 worth of free clothes, perfume and makeup, according to police and store managers named as complainants.

Court records provide a Bedford-Stuyvesant address for Samsin in Brooklyn. Police arrested her at her Brooklyn apartment just past 9 p.m. the night of July 11, 2024, on 10 Class D, E and F Felony Grand Larceny charges along with 12 Class A Misdemeanor charges for Petit Larceny.

Judge Arie Schulman named defense counsel Michael Nolan at her arraignment to represent Samsin. Then he ordered her to be held on $10,000 bail bond. She remains in custody at Nassau Correctional Center in East Meadow. Her next court date is scheduled for August 2.

Magdalena Samsin is still behind bars at the County Jail in East Meadow; her $10,000 bail bond, set by Judge Ari Schulman, remains unposted.Photo byC.J. Teevan