Crimes Nearby: Staged Burglary, Forgery, Menacing

Flower Hill

An Alaska man has been charged with robbery, which Nassau County police say took place in Flower Hill.

Detectives arrested Teddy Smith, 44, of 149 Taylor Road, Kiane, Alaska for a robbery that occurred on Thursday in Flower Hill.

According to detectives, Smith approached a vehicle driven by a 72-year-old woman. Police say Smith blocked the woman’s path and began to shake the car. He then forcibly opened her car door and grabbed her by the arm, attempting to pull her out of the vehicle, police say.

As the woman struggled, a second motorist created a distraction by honking her horn and flashing her lights, which allowed the victim to flee the scene, according to police.

Police say Smith then approached the second driver, a 40-year-old woman. She was forced to drive in reverse to avoid Smith, police say.  She then called police.

According to police, Smith next approached a home on Dogwood Lane, attempting to gain access by banging and pulling on a locked door.

Police arriving on the scene placed Smith under arrest. He is charged with second-degree robbery, third-degree menacing, and second-degree reckless endangerment, police said.

Smith was arraigned on Friday, in First District Court in Hempstead.

1. Garden City detectives arrested a 27-year-old Hempstead man on Dec. 3 and accused him of using forged credit cards to purchase $7,000 in gift cards from Lord & Taylor. The investigation also led to a search of the subject’s residence where detectives discovered computers and several other devices used to manufacture fake credit cards and identification cards. 

2. Two Garden City officers were assaulted by a 51-year-old Hempstead man on Dec. 3 after stopping him for suspicious behavior first initially observed on Prospect Street. The subject fought with the officers causing injuries to one officer’s back and the other officer’s knee. He was charged with two counts of assault and resisting arrest.

Plainview

An animal sitter staged a burglary in her Plainview customer's home, ripping him off for about $6,000 in computers, jewelry and collectibles, Nassau Police detectives said Monday.

Lauren B. Azie, 23, of 23 Theodore Dr., Plainview, was charged Monday with grand larceny after selling off some of the proceeds to a Hicksville pawn shop, detectives said. She was scheduled to be arraigned on the charges Monday.

Azie was hired to pet-sit by a 41-year-old Plainview man at his Northern Parkway residence between Oct. 24 and Nov. 2, police said. 

On Nov. 2, Azie staged a burglary at the victim's home, taking two lap-tops, assorted jewelry and collectible items, valued at about $6,000, police said. The next day, Azie pawned some of the jewelry; the balance of the proceeds have not been recovered, police said.

Detectives believe Azie could have been involved in other area crimes. They are urging residents to contact the Nassau County Police or their local police department if they have suspicions.

The Plainview area has been plagued by in recent months.

Syosset

A Plainview man faces charges of public lewdness after police say he exposed himself to a woman with a child on Circle Drive in Syosset.

Second Squad Detectives said a 36-year-old woman was walking with a child in a stroller on Circle Drive Monday morning when Bradis Bonilla, 24 of Plainview,  exposed himself to her from the front seat of his car. The woman caught the car's plate number and called the police.

Through an investigation, detectives found Bonilla responsible for a similar incident on Thursday when a 54-year-old woman was walking her dog on Virginia Road in Syosset. The driver, who drove a car similar to Bonilla's, exposed himself to her as he drove slowly past, police said.

Detectives located and arrested Bonilla Monday afternoon and found him in possession of marijuana, police said.

Bonilla is charged with two counts of public lewdness and one count of unlawful possession of marijuana. He has been released and was given a desk appearance ticket.