Suspects arrested in East Farmingdale deception home burglary

Suffolk County police have arrested a married couple in connection with an October burglary in which two people tricked a senior citizen and stole her possessions.

Police said Al Tan, 46, and his wife, Sheila Ely, 37, told the woman they were tree workers and needed access to the backyard of her home on East Carmans Road in East Farmingdale on Oct. 21.

One person stayed with the woman in the yard, on the pretense of looking at trees hanging over a neighbor's yard, while the other entered the home and stole jewelry, police said.

Tan and Ely, who were staying at the Days Inn in Copiague, were arrested Friday morning in West Babylon. The pair have been charged with second-degree burglary and third-degree criminal possession of stolen property.

They were scheduled to be arraigned Saturday at First District Court in Central Islip.

Police are asking residents to be vigilant of similar burglary schemes.

"Deception-style burglary suspects often target the elderly and will pose as tree trimmers, roofers and driveway repairmen to get the victims out of the house," a police news release said.

Anyone who believes they have been a victim of a deception burglary but has not reported it should contact Suffolk police's First Squad at 631-854-8152.