By Jeff Lipton
Nassau County Robbery Squad detectives are closely examining the connection between two home invasions and another attempt to gain entry to a home since December. Investigators said a pattern has emerged, which they have been tracking, involving what may be the same pair of robbers.
In the most recent incident, a 27-year-old woman was loading items into her Ford Expedition on Vandam Street in North Woodmere on March 18 at 10:40 p.m. when she was confronted by a man who grabbed her by her hair, held a gun to her head and began to drag her toward her house, detectives said.
The woman began to scream, which prompted the gunman to threaten to shoot her if she didn't stop. That made her scream even louder, which drew the attention of neighbors, police said.
An accomplice of the gunman then saw a neighbor looking out a window, which scared the men away. The woman was shaken but uninjured, detectives said.
Detective Sgt. Gary Schriffen of the Nassau County Robbery Squad said there is no doubt that the woman was being forced into her home, where the men would have robbed her and possibly committed other crimes. "This was an attempt to gain entry into her house," said Schriffen. "Screaming definitely worked in her case. This time the effect was a positive one."
On Dec. 5 at 3:35 a.m., two robbers burst into the rear of a home on June Place in North Woodmere and kicked in a bedroom door. The robbers then pulled out handguns and demanded money from a female occupant of the home, police said. They took a cell phone from the victim and ran away. The victim was not injured, police said.
On March 13 at 3:30 a.m., two robbers broke through a back door of a home on Oak Avenue in Cedarhurst, tied up two occupants with duct tape, ransacked the home and escaped with money and jewelry, officials said. One of the robbers was armed with a gun. Detective Sgt. John Azzata said they took $200 in cash from one victim and a watch from the other.
The robbers ran away, and the victims were able to free themselves about an hour later and call police.
Gary Carlton, a community leader in North Woodmere, said that residents have expressed concern about the recent home invasions. "Sure, it raises your level of concern," he said. "It's bad enough when someone breaks into your home and you're not there, but to have someone so desperate that they have to break into a home with someone inside and it may result in bodily injury, that's something to be scared about."
Carlton said the crimes may spur the community to meet to decide how neighbors can protect themselves. "For a while crime was well under control, and you take it for granted that things will not happen," said Carlton. "Then things start popping up and you look to the police for some answers."
One area resident, who declined to be identified, said she is terrified about the recent crime spree. "Absolutely, a lot of the kids are very worried," she said. "My daughter is making sure all of her windows are locked.
"What many of the kids are doing is, when they're walking to or from their car, they are holding their finger over the panic button of their keys," she added.
Schriffen said residents can protect themselves by securing their doors and windows before going to sleep at night and remembering to set their burglar alarms. In one of the recent cases, occupants forgot to set their alarm.
"People should be nosy," Schriffen said. "They should look around, they should make sure no one is following them. If they think someone is following them, don't hesitate to call 911."
The descriptions in the robberies have been similar. The robbers have been described as black men, between 5 feet 8 and 6 feet 2 and weighing 220 pounds, wearing dark clothing and, in one instance, ski masks.
Crime Stoppers is offering a reward for information leading to an arrest. Anyone with information is urged to call (800) 244-TIPS.
All calls will be kept strictly confidential, police said.
Comments about this story? Jlipton@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 204.
