Hicksville man arrested in Wantagh smoke shop burglary, cops say

A Hicksville man who kicked open the front door of a Wantagh smoke shop early Monday faces burglary charges, Nassau County police said.

Craig Blum, 43, kicked and broke the front door of the Burn Smoke Shop at 3248 Railroad Ave. at about 1:15 a.m., a witness told police, according to a news release.

The witness called the Seventh Precinct as Blum was taking boxes of candy and a glass water pipe from the store, police said. He then walked south on Grove Street.

Responding officers then found Blum walking on Grove Street and arrested him without incident, police said.

Blum, of 185 W. John St., Apt. 7834, is charged with third-degree burglary and possession of burglar tools.

He was arraigned Monday at First District Court in Hempstead and held pending $7,500 bail.

His attorney, Cornell V. Bouse of Mineola, said Blum pleaded not guilty and denied the charges. He is an oil burner technician and always carries his tools with him, including two knives and a Leatherman, a brand of multitool similar to the Swiss Army knife, Bouse said.

Bouse questioned why Blum would steal candy and glass pipes from a store: "He's 43 years old and he's an intelligent person."

With Ellen Yan