A joint investigation between Garden City and Nassau County detectives has led to the arrests of five teenagers accused of robbing cell phones, cash and clothing from numerous individuals. Garden City Detectives Madden and Rothermel and Detective-Sergeant Bartkowski aided in the investigation.

The arrests stemmed from an incident that occurred in New Hyde Park Friday, Dec. 28, at 8:30 p.m.

Detectives report that four 15-year-old male victims were riding their bikes at Michael Tully Park when an unknown male subject exited a black four-door sedan with tinted windows and shiny rims, approached the victims and demanded they empty their pockets.

The subject, who had a black handle object in the back of his pants, threatened the use of a gun but none was displayed. The victims complied and handed over a combined total of $53. The subject fled the scene in the vehicle, with the proceeds, eastbound on Evergreen Avenue. No injuries were reported.

Police have arrested Frank Grieco, 17, of West Hempstead; Nicole Cicchino, 17, of Jericho; a 16-year-old from Franklin Square; Yveson Elie, 18, of Franklin Square; and Michael Ortiz, 18, of Elmont.

The defendants are also being charged with three similar robberies that occurred Dec. 29 at 6:45 p.m. on Bellmore Avenue in Floral Park; on Dec. 31 at 12:15 a.m. on Cherry Valley Avenue in Garden City; and on Dec. 31 at 6:42 p.m. on Somerset Avenue in Garden City.

Defendants Grieco, Cicchino and the 16-year-old from Franklin Square have been charged with four counts of second-degree robbery and three counts of first-degree robbery. Defendant Elie has been charged with two counts of robbery stemming from incidents in Garden City. Defendant Ortiz has been charged with one count of second-degree robbery from the incident in Floral Park.

All five defendants were slated for arraignment at First District Court in Hempstead Jan. 4.