By: JOSEPH KELLARD
The budding capitalists were just trying to make a few bucks, and it all got taken away from them.
Three boys, ages 12 and 13, were out shoveling their neighbors' driveways and sidewalks after about five inches of snow fell Jan. 14, when three male teenagers stole their earnings. Two days later, police arrested a 15-year-old Oceanside resident for first-degree robbery in connection with the crime.
The Herald will not print his name because of his age.
After the three boys finished shoveling the property of a home near Temple Avodah, at 3050 Oceanside Road, they walked through the synagogue's parking lot, where the three teens approached them, Sgt. John Azzata of the Fourth Precinct said Monday.
One suspect displayed a knife tucked in his waistband and demanded money from the boys, according to police. The victims handed him $105, and the subjects fled on foot in an unknown direction without hurting their victims.
All three suspects were described as white males from 15 to 16 years old. The teen who displayed the knife and demanded money had dark hair, a small mustache and long sideburns, and wore a black leather jacket with a fur collar with the logo "Sean John" on the front. The second subject wore a black ski mask, a black "snorkel"-type jacket and jeans, and the third wore a blue puffy jacket with a fur collar, jeans and a hooded sweatshirt.
Police declined to say whether the teen they arrested was the one they suspect displayed the knife or stole the money. "Our investigation has led us to make one arrest in the case so far," Azzata said, "and we are actively pursuing the other suspects in the case."
Asked about possible leads into the identity of the other subjects, Azzata said, "I'm not going to go into detail about the subject's arrest and give away anything to anyone else who we are looking for. As soon as we get one or two other subjects under arrest, there will be more details to come."
