Suffolk police investigating business break-ins in Suffolk County
Suffolk County police are investigating a dozen burglaries following the same pattern between Holbrook, East Setauket and Smithtown — including one in which thieves stole an ATM.
Police said the burglaries, where in most cases the intruders broke a window or glass door to enter businesses to steal money, began on Sept. 23. Police noticed a pattern where burglars used a brick or a concrete block to break in.
In a burglary Monday at Luka's Cafe and Deli in Holbrook, thieves stole an ATM full of cash and loaded it into a waiting SUV.
"All pattern crimes are a priority for our department. Relevant intelligence is provided to our officers in patrol cars and constantly updated," Suffolk County police said in a statement.
The first burglary was at Lemon Tree Hair Salon on Furrows Road in Holbrook sometime after 3 a.m., police said.
A similar burglary occurred Sept. 29 at Cafe Timboo on Jericho Turnpike in Smithtown, police said.
The thieves broke into Luka's Cafe the first time Oct. 1, before returning three days later.
Nine more burglaries occurred in surrounding communities. On Oct. 2, burglars in Lake Grove threw a brick through a front glass window around 4:15 a.m. and stole cash from Mayra’s Bakery on Hawkins Avenue, police said.
The next day, police said someone stole cash just after midnight from a Dunkin’ on Main Street in East Setauket.
After the ATM was stolen from Luka's Monday, cash was stolen at 8 a.m. from Tai Show North in Setauket, police said.
Three more burglaries occurred on Wednesday, between 1 a.m. and 4:30 a.m., at Carolina Kitchen in Medford, Hummus Mediterranean on Main Street in Holbrook and Edesia Pizzeria on Lakeland Avenue in Bohemia.
In Holbrook and Bohemia, a rear glass door was broken and cash was stolen. Police said no cash was taken at the Medford restaurant.
The most recent burglary, reported Thursday, was about 5:30 a.m. at Horseblock Heros in Medford.
Police said they have not identified any suspects in the burglaries but have increased patrols.
Detectives ask anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 800-220-8477.
John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.
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