Second arrest in North Valley Stream home invasion

Nassau County Police have arrested the man they say planned the botched home invasion in North Valley Stream last month, and he is a relative of the robbery victims.

Varinder Singh, 23, of Wyngate Drive East in North Valley Stream, faces burglary and robbery charges. He was arrested on Sunday following an investigation. According to police, he is the cousin and nephew of the people who live in the Dana Avenue home.

Police say that three men — Singh, Timothy Capers and Levi Robinson — broke into the home on Jan. 16 at 9:15 p.m. and tied up two adults and one child, then started ransacking the home. Police showed up and shots were exchanged between officers and at least one of the robbers, while the family was able to escape safely.

Police say that the home was targeted. According to Detective John Azzata, Singh knew of the family’s financial situation. “He conspired with these other individuals to commit this robbery,” Azzata said.

During the subsequent investigation and interviews, Azzata said it became apparent that someone with a strong knowledge of the family’s “inner workings” was behind the robbery. That ultimately led police to Singh.

Capers, 37, of Queens, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after exchanging several rounds of gun fire with police. Robinson, 33, of Jamaica, Queens, reportedly hid in a back bedroom during the gun battle. He was taken into custody that night and charged with robbery, burglary and criminal possession of a weapon.

Azzata said that Singh was not in the home at all during the exchange of gun fire with police. Singh was charged with first-degree burglary and second-degree robbery and was arraigned on Monday in First District Court.