Cops: Women punched H&M guard during theft

Nassau County police said they have arrested two women in connection with a robbery in May at Massapequa department store in which a store guard was assaulted.

Anise Matthew, 21, of Wyandanch Avenue in West Babylon was arrested on Thursday, and Tishawri Tate, 21, of Columbus Boulevard in Amityville surrendered to detectives Saturday, police said. Police said the women entered the H&M store on Sunrise Highway at 7:45 p.m. May 26 and stole two shirts worth less than $40.

When the guard, 21, attempted to stop the women outside the store, they began punching him in the head and neck, police said. The guard, who was not injured, was able to retrieve the stolen items but the women fled the scene, police said.

Police said the women were seen on the store's closed-circuit camera system, but it was unclear what led authorities to Matthew and Tate nearly three months later.

Both women are charged with second-degree robbery. Matthew was arraigned last week in First District Court in Hempstead; Tate will be arraigned Sunday in Hempstead.