Is the crime spree over for RVC?

Rockville Centre and Nassau County police are hoping to connect two teens arrested early Monday morning to a string of burglaries of occupied homes that had village residents on edge throughout November.

According to police officials, 16-year-old Bobby Fountain, of 157th Street in Jamaica, and 19-year-old David Murphy, who claimed to be homeless but also from Jamaica, were taken into custody and questioned by detectives from the county’s 1st Precinct. Murphy, who, according to a police source, has prior arrests for assault and burglary and may be on probation, was charged with assault, possession of burglary tools, resisting arrest, two counts of criminal trespass and two counts of violation of probation. Fountain, who police say has no prior arrests, was charged with possession of burglary tools.

The pair were caught after Rockville Centre plainclothes officers saw them in the driveway of a home at Hempstead and Locust avenues. When officers approached, they said, they saw both young men holding screwdrivers. Fountain was arrested almost immediately, and Murphy fled into a neighboring rear yard. He was taken into custody about two hours later, after Nassau County canine and aviation units were dispatched. Police captured Murphy in the backyard of a Lakeview Avenue home, near Milford Place.

Village police officer Christopher O'Connor sprained his right hand during the arrest and was taken to South Nassau Communities Hospital, where he was treated and released.

Police department sources said the investigation is continuing, as are the department’s anti-crime patrols, in case there were others involved in the recent burglaries.

Comments about this story? RVCeditor@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 208.