By Jeff Lipton
The gunpoint robbery produced more tension in a neighborhood already uneasy after three other home invasions in the past four months - two in North Woodmere and one in Cedarhurst.
"Yes, it's very possibly the same people," said Detective Sgt. Gary Schriffen of the Nassau County Robbery Squad, which has been following the robbery pattern. "It's a very similar robbery - not exactly, but very similar."
Robbery investigators said they believe three robbers entered the Lawrence home through an unlocked sliding door on Wednesday, May 4, at 3:45 a.m. Schriffen said police are not revealing the street where the victims live to protect their identity. Once inside, the robbers made their way to the second-floor bedroom of the parents, and two of them stood over the parents while a third stood watch on an outside landing, Schriffen said.
The two robbers, one armed with a handgun and both wearing black ski masks, woke up the victims and demanded money and jewelry from them, police said. After taking an undisclosed amount of money and jewelry, the suspects tied their victims up in the bedroom with items they found there and left through the front door, police said.
The three children, who are in their 20s, slept in their bedrooms throughout the robbery. After several minutes, their father managed to free himself and call 911.
No one was reported physically injured.
About 35 minutes earlier, a similar home invasion took place in Bellmore, involving three robbers armed with two handguns and wearing ski masks. Investigators are convinced, however, that the two robberies are not connected. "It's not a hop, skip and a jump away [from Bellmore to Lawrence]," said Schriffen.
But he did connect the Lawrence robbery to the three others committed in the Five Towns since December. On March 18 the same robbers apparently accosted a 27-year-old woman who was loading items into her Ford Expedition on Vandam Street in North Woodmere at 10:40 p.m. They grabbed her by her hair, held a gun to her head and tried to drag her into her home, police said. But she began to scream, which drew the attention of a neighbor who peeked out a window, scaring the robbers away. The victim was not physically injured, police said.
On Dec. 5, two robbers broke into the rear of a home on June Place in North Woodmere at 3:35 a.m. and kicked in a bedroom door. They then pulled out handguns and demanded money from a female occupant of the home, police said. They took a cell phone from her and ran away. The victim was not injured.
On March 13, two robbers, one armed with a handgun, broke through a back door of a home on Oak Avenue in Cedarhurst at 3:30 a.m., tied up two occupants with duct tape and ransacked the home, escaping with $200 from one victim and a watch from the other, officials said.
Neighborhood watch
The crime spree has made neighbors jittery, and has prompted residents in North Woodmere to organize a neighborhood watch. Scott Goldberg, a North Woodmere resident, has spearheaded the effort, and said a committee meeting is scheduled for May 16. The watch will probably be ready to roll at the beginning of June, which could eventually lead to car patrols, he said.
"These robberies are very alarming," said Goldberg. "The only thing that gives me comfort is the fact that in every house that was broken into there was not an alarm that was set and there were doors left open. I try to keep my house as secure as possible."
Last week's robbery in Lawrence has sparked the resurrection of a neighborhood watch in Lawrence, said Simon Felder, Lawrence Village police commissioner and deputy mayor. Felder said he has met with Inspector Richard McGuire, commanding officer of the Fourth Precinct, and wrote a letter to Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi urging more police presence. Felder said the police patrols have been doubled in the neighborhood.
"This crime has really shocked the daylights out of us over here," Felder said. "We can't go on with business as usual. We've got to do something. And the police are on top of things. We are very grateful to them for everything they are doing.
"It's scary to wake up in the middle of the night and find two guys standing at your bedside, one at your side and one at your wife's side," Felder said. "These robbers are stealthy, they go in the dark and they test each house, looking for an open window or door. It is the responsibility of residents to secure their own homes. The main thing is, we don't want to alarm residents, but keep your homes alarmed and locked."
McGuire said both marked and unmarked patrols have been increased in the area, along with air patrols with police helicopters. "People should secure their homes, be aware of anyone in the neighborhood who doesn't belong and report all suspicious behavior to 911," McGuire said.
Crime Stoppers is seeking information on the robberies. Anyone with information is urged to call (800) 244-TIPS. All calls will be kept strictly confidential.
Comments about this story? JLipton@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 204.
