By: Jason Scheer
In a span of 20 days, eight victims have been robbed while walking alone at night. Sgt. Anthony Repalone, spokesman for the police department, said that attacks have occurred in East Meadow, Baldwin, Rockville Centre, Roosevelt, Garden City and Uniondale. The attackers have struck twice in Baldwin and Uniondale.
The latest attack happened in Roosevelt last Thursday at around 8 p.m. A deliveryman for Papa John-s Pizza in Freeport was called to deliver pizza to 82 Manhattan Ave. Two girls, who Repalone said were between 15 and 20, stood in front of the building and accepted the delivery. After the 24-year-old deliveryman gave the girls the pizza, two men, each about 25, emerged from the side of the building and began punching the deliveryman and hitting him with a bat.
The incident closely resembled seven previous robberies, three of which occurred on Jan. 18 in East Meadow, Baldwin and Garden City. All three victims, whose names were not released by police, gave similar accounts of the incidents.
The East Meadow victim, a deliveryman for Ming-s Chinese restaurant on Front Street, was making a delivery to a Chestnut Street residence when three to four masked men got out of a dark-colored, four-door car possibly a Honda Accord or Nissan Altima and hit him several times with a baseball bat.
The suspects stole the food, got back in the car and were last seen on Front Street. The deliveryman suffered a fractured left wrist and was taken to Nassau University Medical Center, where he was treated and released.
On Jan. 19, a second Baldwin resident fell victim to an attack. According to police, a 40-year-old man was walking along Coes Neck Road when he was attacked by two men, one wielding a bat. They demanded cash, and when the victim put up a struggle, a third man came out of a dark-colored SUV and helped knock the victim down.
We believe all of these incidents are related, said Repalone. What makes the robberies so appalling, Repalone said, is the fact that the robbers are brandishing weapons even after victims comply with demands.
Police said they don-t yet have much information, but are pursuing leads on three vehicles.
Until the perpetrators are caught, Repalone said, people need to be more aware of their own safety. He said that if you must be outside late at night, walk with a companion. Delivery people should call customers and ask them to flick a light on and off to indicate that they are inside.
Furthermore, If you have a gut instinct that something [bad] is going to happen, leave immediately, Repalone said.
Anyone with information on the robberies is asked to call Nassau Crime Stoppers at (800) 244-8477.
Comments about this story? JScheer@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 282.
