Police Arrest Suspects in Mineola Burglaries

By Joe Rizza

Nassau County police have arrested two suspects in connection to recent burglaries occurring in Mineola and surrounding areas. The suspects allegedly burglarized a Mineola home, which was occupied, and one of the suspects allegedly robbed a convenience store, resulting in a shot being fired.

According to police, on Aug. 28, two suspects, allegedly a 28-year-old Brooklyn man and a 20-year-old male who police suspect came with the 28-year-old from Brooklyn by train, entered a residence on Bauer Place in the early morning hours through a rear window.

The suspects allegedly took photographic equipment, cellphones and personal items. Although police say the residence was occupied, the suspects searched only the first floor of the home.

Also in the early morning hours of Aug. 28, police say at least one of the suspects entered a residence on Prospect Street in Williston Park, which was also occupied, and removed purses, wallets and the keys to a 1990 Plymouth Laser, which he or they used to flee the scene.

On Sunday, Sept. 2, police arrested the 28-year-old suspect and charged him with two counts of Burglary 2nd degree. Police have linked this suspect to the burglary at Bauer Place and suspect he may have been involved in others. The police investigation is continuing.

Early in the morning of Sept. 3, between 3 and 5:30 a.m., police allege that the 20-year-old suspect burglarized a home on Marcellus Road, also taking a Toyota Avalon from the home.

Police could not account for the whereabouts of the suspect until 8:15 a.m. that morning when he entered the R.M.V. Convenience Store, located at 289 Hillside Avenue in Williston Park, displaying a handgun, police said.

According to police, the owner of the store surrendered an undetermined amount of cash and the suspect then fled the store. While walking on Hillside Avenue, the suspect dropped a set of keys. As he picked them up, he saw the victim following him, police said. The suspect then fired a shot in the direction of the victim, police said. However, the shot missed as the subject fled the scene in the vehicle believed to have been taken from Marcellus Road, police said.

Later that day, police arrested the 20-year-old suspect at 3 p.m. He is being charged with a minimum of 19 counts including multiple counts of Grand Larceny Auto and Burglary 1st Degree as well as Attempted Murder.

Besides the burglary on Marcellus Road and at the convenience store, police have linked the suspect to the burglaries on Prospect Street in Williston Park, Bauer Place, Lee Avenue in Albertson and Pennsylvania Avenue in Mineola, which occurred on Aug. 10.

Police believe the suspects are heroin users and entered premises with the hopes of taking anything they could find on the first floor. Police don't believe that in these instances the perpetrators had any interest in going up to the second floor of the homes.

Village of Mineola Deputy Mayor Lou Santosus addressed the situation at last Wednesday's village meeting, saying the police did a great job in apprehending the suspects quickly. "The good news is that the perpetrators have been apprehended," he said. "They're both not from this area. Unfortunately the people were home [during the burglaries], but nobody was injured. It's a scary world out there so keep your doors locked."

The Toyota Avalon taken from Marcellus Road was recovered by police in good shape and will be returned to the owner in about a month since it is needed by the Nassau County District Attorney as evidence.