Surveillance video shows man breaking into Merrick office, cops say

He made sure to avoid leaving fingerprints, covering his hands with his shirt sleeves.

How police — and now the general public — know this is because he did so on surveillance video. One minute and 11 seconds of video, to be exact.

Nassau County police are asking the public’s help identifying the man suspected of breaking into an office in Merrick last November and stealing two laptop computers. The burglary occurred at a building on Merrick Avenue at 8:50 a.m. Nov. 28.

The video shows the suspect attempting to force open the office door, failing and walking away, then returning. The video is well-lighted, the suspect’s image very clear.

At one point, the suspect is seen covering his hands with his shirt sleeves, before he grabs the door handle in an attempt to open the locked door.

Finally, he shoulders the door open — and disappears into the office.

The burglary was reported by a 54-year-old male victim, who police said, found his computers missing after the break-in.

Police ask anyone with information about the burglary to call Nassau Crime Stoppers at 800-244-8477.

All calls will be kept confidential.

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.”