Cops: Two charged in Westbury robbery

Two armed men -- one with a handgun, the other with a machete -- were arrested on charges they robbed a couple outside a Westbury market late Thursday, Nassau County police said.

Jose Pena, 22, of 1096 Broadway, Westbury, and Jose Francia, 20, of 360 Magnolia Ave., New Cassel, face charges of first-degree robbery, criminal use of a firearm and criminal possession of a weapon, police said.

They are scheduled to be arraigned Friday at First District Court in Hempstead.

The suspects, showing their weapons, approached a couple -- a man and a woman -- at about 11:51 p.m. outside La Frontera, a deli and mini mart at 427 Maple Ave., police said.

Francia had a handgun and Pena a machete when they demanded property from the couple, police said. Francia took the woman's pocketbook, police said, and the two men ran west on Maple Avenue, north toward Linden Avenue.

Third Precinct officers and the Canine Unit search the area and the dog Gehrig found the two suspects hiding in the side yard of a Dover Street residence where they were arrested, according to a news release.

The Emergency Services Unit, which assisted with the investigation, found a loaded .38 caliber handgun and machete under a bush in the yard, police said.

Police also said "proceeds were recovered."