Nassau police link 2 gas station heists

Robbery squad detectives Tuesday were investigating two gas station robberies that appear to be linked, police said.

The robberies took place early Tuesday morning four miles -- and half an hour -- apart in West Hempstead and Garden City Park.

The holdups were reported by two separate Nassau Police precincts -- the Garden City Park gas station is in the Third Precinct and the West Hempstead station in the Fourth Precinct.

"We believe they are connected," Det. Sgt. John Giambrone, of the Nassau police robbery squad, said. The robbery squad has countywide jurisdiction.

In both robberies, an attendant was approached by a man in a hooded sweatshirt who appeared to be carrying a gun and who demanded money and cigarettes, police said. Both workers complied with the demands of the suspect or suspects, and neither worker was injured, police said.

At 3:35 a.m. a man robbed the BP station on Jericho Turnpike in Garden City Park, a 65-year-old worker reported.

And shortly before 4 a.m. a man robbed an OK gas station at 151 Hempstead Tpke., West Hempstead, then fled west toward Westminster Road, a 44-year-old worker said.

Detectives ask anyone with information about the crimes to make a confidential call to Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 800-244-TIPS.

With John Valenti