Mastic Beach knifepoint robbery not tied to spree, cops say

A man robbed a Mastic Beach market at knifepoint Monday — but after reviewing surveillance video Suffolk County police said it’s not the work of a knife-wielding bandit who’s robbed at least 17 businesses on Long Island in recent months.

The robbery occurred at Country Market on Whittier Drive near Neighborhood Road at about 9:30 p.m., police said. The suspect entered the store, displayed a knife, told the clerk to open the drawer — then stole cash and cigarettes before fleeing on foot.

But police said the suspect’s physical description — the Mastic Beach robber is about 5-foot-6 and about 230 pounds — gives them good reason to believe it’s not linked to the pattern robberies committed by the knife-wielding robber who’s hit businesses in Nassau and Suffolk since March 1.

The FBI has joined the probe into the robberies involving a masked man who has hit at least seven Dunkin’ Donuts shops, two 7-Elevens, two Subway sandwich shops and two Carvel ice cream stores.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”