Police: 2 men arrested in string of crimes at nearly 20 Nassau businesses
The robberies happened across eight different villages or hamlets across the county and took place over an almost four-month span.
More Stories
Two men were arrested in a string of crimes at nearly 20 Long Island businesses.
The robberies happened across eight different villages or hamlets across Nassau County and took place over an almost four-month span.
Police say two of the burglaries took place in New Hyde Park, two in Oceanside, five in Hicksville, two in Williston Park, five in Lynbrook, one in Plainview and one in Mineola.
Police say they arrested the two men during their latest burglary, which happened Thursday in Merrick.
The suspects, 50-year-old Diego Ercoli and 60-year-old Hector Portilla, faced a Nassau County judge Friday for their arraignments.
Emma, one of the employees whose store was robbed in Lynbrook, says she knew something was wrong when she walked in and saw the register paper on the floor.
“First, I think, ‘Oh, maybe my assistant came here to do that,’” Emma says. “Then I go around the register and everything was on the floor and the register was broke.”
Emma says the suspected burglars took everything from the register and also money from a wallet that was left in the business
She says it was the first time the business has ever been robbed, even though she once left the back door open by accident.
Police told her the suspects broke in through the back door. They believe the suspects took over $300 from Emma’s business.
News 12 was the first to tell Emma of the accused robbers’ arrests.
“I feel really good about it,” Emma says. “They do bad, so they deserve it.”
Portilla surrendered his passport, and the judge set an electronic monitor for bail. He is due back in court on Aug. 18.
A judge set Ercoli's bail at $250,000 cash, $500,000 bond or $2 million in partially secured bond. He is due back in court on Aug. 8.
Police say many of the burglarized businesses were in the same strip mall or building.
