Crimes Nearby: 2 Arrested in Lynbrook Robberies, Lookout Man Nabbed

The following information was provided by the Nassau County Police. A criminal charge is only an accusation, and does not indicate convictions.

Police: Man Was Acting as a Lookout

A Queens man was arrested on Friday after he appeared to be acting as a lookout for another man near a Valley Stream home, according to police.

Nicholas S. Bennett, 22, of, Rosedale, was charged with second-degree attempted burglary.

Police said that on Feb. 3 at 12:17 p.m., Bennett was seen ringing the doorbell of a Broadway home, and then walking around the house to the rear yard with a second man, police said. The defendant then walked to the front of the house and appeared to be acting as a lookout.

When police arrived at the scene, Bennett fled, leading officers on a foot pursuit. Bennett was apprehended on Elm Street and 112th Avenue.  No injuries were reported at this time. The investigation is ongoing.

Police arrested a man Thursday for a robbery that occurred in November 2009 at the Smoker's Choice in Lynbrook.

Roger E. Earl, 51, of Queens, was arrested on Thursday at 6:35 a.m. at his residence without incident.

According to detectives, on Nov. 21, 2009, two male subjects entered Smoker’s Choice, located at 350 Sunrise Highway, took out a handgun and tied up an employee with plastic ties. The subjects stole cash from the register and five cartons of cigarettes before fleeing on foot. The victim was able to free himself and was not injured, police said.

Police said that they are still looking for the second subject.

Lynbrook Police arrested a Freeport man last Monday after they said he stole from a few Lynbrook businesses and broke into several cars. He was also allegedly responsible for the theft of an East Meadow back in January.

Emania Shepard, 50, of Freeport, was charged with seven counts of burglary, two counts of grand larceny and two counts of petty larceny.

Police said Shepard first entered at 24 Atlantic Ave. Monday, swiping three cloth hats valued at $225. Shepard then entered Brokerage at 8 Forest Ave. and stole a set of car keys. He then left the building and entered the victim's car, removing the victim's cell phone, music CD's and sunglasses, police said.
Shepard headed next to the driveway of , located at 272 Merrick Rd., and entered an unlocked 2012 Cadillac SUV, stealing the owner's iPhone 4S, police said. Shepard was then followed him by three witnesses and was stopped in the vicinity of the

The defendant was placed under arrest by a Lynbrook police officer and transported to the Lynbrook Police Department Headquarters.
During the investigation, detectives recognized Shepard as the suspect wanted in connection with stealing Dr. John Zaso's emergency vehicle back on Jan. 11 in East Meadow.

Maria Prentino, 39, of Long Beach was arrested and charged with burglaries in the West End and East Atlantic Beach on Jan. 26.

According to Michael Tangney, acting commissioner of the , Prentino allegedly committed burglaries and attempted burglaries at homes on New York Avenue, Nebraska Avenue and Alabama Avenue in the West End, and a house in East Atlantic Beach on Jan. 24 and 26, and took cash and jewelry. 

“We have been able to recover nearly 90 percent of the stolen items which will be returned to the rightful owners,” Dt. Michael Corbett said. “A substantial amount of physical evidence was collected at the various burglary scenes, enabling us to capture the defendant quickly."

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