Crime & Safety

Crimes Nearby: Drugs and Gift Scam; Sex Attack Arrest

Notable arrests and criminal activity in the region this week.

Trio Busted for Drugs and Gift Card Scam

A Massapequa man and two others were arrested Wednesday for scamming Home Depot and using the money they received to buy drugs, Nassau County police said.

Nicholas Scuro, 25, allegedly stole items from branches of the home improvement store along with Kurt Walther, 22, of Wantagh and Husam Elghonami of Levittown. They would then return the items and got back debit or gift cards, which they sold to a pawnshop for cash, police said. In all they netted $28,800 from 37 cards, according to police. On Wednesday police arrested them in Uniondale after the three were spotted stealing from Home Depot, selling the gift cads and buying a substance believed to be heroin. All were charged with grand larceny. Scuro and Walther were charged with three counts of drug possession, while  Elghonami was charged with two counts of drug possession. 

Police Charge Man in Sex Attack

Nassau Police have charged a Glen Cove man in connection with the sexual abuse of a massage therapist in early January at the Red Bell Spa in Hicksville, Nassau Police said.

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Folloing an investigation, Police arrested James A. Catanzano, 53, of 26 Jefferson Street, Glen Cove in connection with the attack that began with a request for a massage.  Catanzano is charged with first-degree sexual abuse. He is scheduled for arraignment Thursday. 

Manhunt on for Morton Village Bank Robber

Nassau County police are searching for the man who robbed Chase Bank at 1064 Old Country Rd. Thursday afternoon. According to police, a white male, about 6-foot-2 wearing dark clothing, walked in at 3:02 p.m. He handed a demand note to a teller, and after they complied, he fled eastbound on Old Country Road with an undetermined amount of money. There were no reported injuries. Detectives ask anyone with information about this crime to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.

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Man Suspected in Nearby Burglaries Arrested in Woodbury

A West Babylon man suspected in two South Farmingdale burglaries was arrested on Thursday, Jan. 23 at 5:45 p.m. at the Nassau County Police second precinct. Police say Robert David Avena, 19, is charged with two counts of Burglary 2nd degree and Criminal Possession of a Stolen Property 4th degree. He was arraigned on Friday, January 24, 2014 at First District Court in Hempstead.

 

 


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