Police: Fire at Hewlett auto shop considered 'suspicious;' community voices concerns

An early morning fire Monday at a Hewlett auto shop is considered suspicious, Nassau police said, as community members expressed concerns about other incidents in the neighborhood

First responders arrived at Avi’s Auto Center on West Broadway just before 3 a.m. and found a tow truck and part of the auto shop on fire, according to a Nassau police news release.

Members of the Hewlett Fire Department were joined by neighboring fire companies in extinguishing the blaze. No injuries were reported, police said.

Investigators called the fire "suspicious," and an investigation is underway, police said.

No further information was immediately available.

Some residents raised concerns about two previous incidents in the neighborhood, smashed windows at two businesses along West Broadway, reported about 5:30 a.m., and a banner that was hung on a fence at the Israel Chesed Center on Peninsula Boulevard, reported at about 7 a.m.

The banner read “50,000 Dead Gazan Kids,” though police said that incident was not being considered a hate or bias crime.

Paola Groenveld, owner of Menekshe New York, said that in the 19 years that she has worked in the area, she never experienced an issue like this.

“I [felt] so safe before. Now I don't know what to think," she said.

Moshe Bodner, co-founder of the Israel Chesed Center, said it was important to not be fearful.

“We can control what we do. We can control our reactions, and to just act appropriately and respectfully,” he said.

Bodner said he stood with the police department's determination that the banner and the vandalism were separate, he suggested that this would be a “very significant and unusual coincidence.”

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman issued a statement regarding the three incidents, saying they were not related.