Cops: Footprints in snow lead to robbery suspect

Nassau cops found at least one upside to Thursday's nor'easter: Footprints in the snow helped them catch a man who, police said, robbed a Massapequa Dunkin' Donuts.

Police said Victor Fabian, 21, of 350 Park Lane in Massapequa walked into the doughnut shop on 1000 Carmans Rd. about 4:26 a.m. Thursday and asked for a doughnut. When Fabian tried to pay for the doughnut with his debit/credit card, police said, it was declined. Fabian then showed the 25-year-old female employee a handgun and demanded cash from the register.

The employee complied, and Fabian fled on foot toward Carmans Road with the stolen money, police said. Fabian was described as wearing a black North Face hooded jacket, dark colored sweatpants with a white stripe and a dark, multicolored cloth across his face.

Soon after, Seventh Precinct officers responded to the Dunkin' Donuts and saw a single set of footprints in the fresh snow outside the store. They followed the prints to a house on Park Lane, where Fabian was arrested. Police also found a glass pipe containing "what appeared to be marijuana" and a pill believed to be oxycodone inside the home.

Fabian was charged with first-degree robbery, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon and first-degree criminal use of a firearm, and was arraigned Friday at First District Court in Hempstead.

Bail was set at $201,000 bond or $100,500 cash, records show. Fabian had not posted bail by Friday evening.