Cops: Restaurant workers thwart robbery

A woman used a fake gun to rob a Chinese restaurant, police said, but the attempt was foiled when two employees overpowered her -- and held her until officers arrived.

Now Domonique Scarpati and her accused getaway driver, Michael Karavas, both 23, are under arrest on robbery charges after the botched holdup attempt Wednesday at Yan's Kin Wah Kitchen on Main Street in Farmingdale, Nassau County police said.

Scarpati, of 1183 Udall Rd. in Bay Shore, entered the restaurant at about 8:30 p.m., displaying the handgun and demanding cash from the two male employees, ages 39 and 27, police said.

Police said Karavas, of 21 Lambert Ave. in Farmingdale, waited in the getaway car, a Mazda, during the robbery.

But, police said, the employees overpowered Scarpati, wrestling the gun from her -- then held her for police.

Karavas fled, police said, but was caught a short time later at his home. He was taken into custody without incident, according to police.

Police said the stolen cash also was recovered, as was "an imitation firearm." No further description of the fake gun was immediately available.

Both Karavas and Scarpati face charges of second-degree robbery, while Scarpati also faces charges of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, according to police.

The two are scheduled for arraignment Thursday in First District Court in Hempstead.