Man hits car in Riverhead, carjacks it with owner inside, cops say

Riverhead Town police said they are looking for a man who carjacked a vehicle and then hammered it with a baseball bat early Monday.

The suspect broke windows on a 1998 Honda Civic that was parked at a Riverhead 7-Eleven just before 4 a.m. and forced himself into the car, driving off with its owner inside, police said.

The suspect drove to a wooded area off Kroemer Avenue in Riverhead, where he ordered the victim, a 37-year-old man, out of the Honda, police said.

When the victim refused, the suspect began to hit the vehicle with a baseball bat he had hidden in his clothing, according to police.

The car owner fled and called police.

Officers responded, and a canine unit also searched the area but was unable to find the suspect, police said.

The car, which had a broken windshield and windows, and a damaged hood, was impounded for forensic analysis and the investigation is continuing, police said.

Anyone with more information can call detectives at 631-727-4500 ext. 326.