Cops: 3 charged after cashing stolen ticket

Three Long Island men who stole lottery tickets, cigarettes and beer from a Williston Park beverage store Tuesday were arrested on burglary charges after they cashed in one of the stolen tickets, Nassau County police said.

Police said Cory Allen, 26, of Babylon, Christopher Webb, 31, of West Babylon, and Lawrence Murphy, 21, of Mineola, broke into Willis Avenue Beverage at 396 Willis Ave. at about 12:30 a.m. and made off with $1,800 worth of New York Lottery scratch-off tickets, 36 packs of cigarettes and a case of beer.

Later that day, Allen cashed in one of the tickets at a store near his home, police said. The owner of Willis Avenue Beverage had reported the incident, including calling lottery officials, and Allen's ticket came up as stolen on lottery computers, police said.

Allen and Webb, of 1042 E. Little Neck Rd., were arrested at Allen's house. Murphy was arrested at his home in Mineola, at 617 Marcellus Rd.

Police said all three men are charged with burglary, and Webb and Allen each had an open bench warrant.

The three were scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday in First District Court in Hempstead.

A lottery official said it appeared a few different tickets collectively worth $232 were presented for payment at that store that day. The official said the value of the stolen ticket could not be determined.

With William Murphy