A man tells News 12 he saw a suspect wanted in a string of Suffolk County robberies up close.
The witness showed News 12 video of the alleged robber parking near his house. He says the man then walked over and broke into an Asian Fusion restaurant in Holbrook.
The man did not want the video or his face to be shown on air for fear of being targeted but described what he saw.
He says the alleged thief parked an SUV right next to his house early Sunday then walked around the corner and broke into the restaurant.
Approximately 17 minutes later, the suspect came back running.
The incident is the 13th time a business has been burglarized in the area within 2 1/2 weeks.
Communities like Bohemia, Lake Grove, East Setauket, Medford and Smithtown were targeted.
Each time, the alleged robber breaks in with a brick then rips out the register. Once he took out an entire ATM.
Phyliss Boccio lives close to the most recent crime and worries the thief could start targeting homes next.
“It’s frightening,” Boccio says. “What if they come to our house while we’re home and try to rob the house?”
Other businesses in the area are making sure their alarm systems work and hope they are not next on the suspect’s list.
“It is scary,” says Theresa Dellecave, of the Musician’s Place. “They’re two doors down, three doors down. It’s a little worrisome.”