Cops: Man charged in jewelry store heist, attempt

A Queens man was arrested Thursday and charged with robbing a Franklin Square jewelry store in May and with the attempted robbery of a different Franklin Square jewelry store in January, police said.

Darren Elliott, 25, of Howard Beach, was one of two men who robbed Luchie Capri Jewelers on Hempstead Turnpike on May 15, Nassau police said. They escaped with a knapsack filled with assorted jewelry, police said.

Elliott and the second man tried to rob the Stein Family Jewelers, 784 Hempstead Tpke., on Jan. 15, police said, but were startled when a customer entered the store. The suspects fled empty-handed.

"Physical evidence left at the scene of the first one led us to Mr. Elliott, and we were then able to connect him to the second robbery," robbery squad Det. Sgt. John Giambrone said.

Elliott was arrested in Queens without incident. The proceeds from the robbery were not recovered, police said, nor were the weapons used -- a stun gun in May and a handgun in January.

Giambrone said the investigation is continuing, and detectives are still seeking to identify and locate the second man.

Elliott was to be arraigned Friday in First District Court, Hempstead, on multiple charges of attempted robbery and robbery, as well as criminal use of a firearm.