Police: West Hempstead Gas Station Robbery May Be Linked

The robbery of a gas station in West Hempstead early Tuesday morning may be linked to another robbery in Garden City Park, according to Nassau County Police.

The robberies occurred within 30 minutes of each other and were about four miles of distance between the two gas station locations. However, Garden City Park is located within the Third Precinct while West Hempstead resides in the Fourth Precinct.

According to Third Precinct detectives, at about 3:35 a.m., a 65-year-old male employee was approached and displayed what appeared to be a gun and demanded cash and cigarettes.

The victim handed over the money and the suspect fled on foot in an unknown direction and with cigarettes, police said.

According to detectives in West Hempstead, a 44-year-old male employee was working alone at the OK Gas Station located at 151 Hempstead Ave. when he was approached by a male suspect around 4 a.m., again demanding cash and cigarettes.

In both instances the suspect was described as a light-skinned black male wearing a hooded shirt.

“We believe they are connected,” Det. Sgt. John Giambrone, of the Nassau police robbery squad, told Newsday [paid link].

Detectives ask anyone with information about this crime to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.