Nassau County's Arson/Bomb Squad, in conjunction with the fire marshal's office, are investigating, various related incidents of arson that have occurred in Hicksville, Syosset and Plainview over the past week.

On Saturday, Feb. 22 at 12:45 a.m., a husband and wife, sleeping in an upstairs bedroom of the Ingram Drive home in Hicksville awoke to a loud bang downstairs. They discovered someone had put a lighted bottle rocket through the mail slot of their front door. The rocket caused minor damage to the front door area. At 1:30 a.m., the sound of his dogs barking and a loud pop awoke the owner of a Narcissus Drive home in Syosset, also asleep on the second floor. A lighted bottle rocket had been put through the mail slot of his front door. At 9 p.m. the homeowners of a Drury Lane residence arrived home to find someone had put a bottle rocket through the mail slot of the front door causing minor damage to the mail slot. No one was home at the time of the incident.

Additional incidents occurred earlier last week when Second Precinct officers were called to a Jackson Avenue home in Syosset at 3 a.m. and at approximately 3:10 a.m. to a Jamaica Avenue home in Plainview. Upon arrival, officers determined that a lighted bottle rocket had been put into each home's front door mailbox. The rocket, which entered the home and exploded, caused minor damage to the mailbox, interior wall and floor at the respective homes. At the time of occurrence, both homes were occupied and no injuries were reported.

While police believe homes are being selected at "random," homeowners are urged to lock screen doors when the mail slot is not being used and to leave outdoor lights on. Police are asking that anyone with information relating to the above mentioned incidents call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.

- Victoria A. Caruso