Police: Man tried to swipe 22 shoe pairs

A Hempstead man who allegedly tried to steal 22 pairs of shoes Monday from the J.C. Penney store at Sunrise Mall in East Massapequa faces robbery and petty larceny charges, Seventh Squad detectives said.

Nassau County police said Bernard Coleman, 43, was seen on video surveillance loading a plastic garbage bag with the shoes at about 2:26 p.m. and then leaving the store without paying.

Security personnel nabbed Coleman, of 75 Thorne St., outside the mall with the shoes, police said.

When police arrived at the scene, another officer also said Coleman fit the description of a robbery suspect in a March 29 incident at the Payless shoe store in the same mall.

Coleman faces charges in both incidents, police said. He is charged with robbery and petty larceny and will be arraigned Tuesday at First District Court in Hempstead. police said.