Driver flees house burglary, crashes into Shirley flower shop, Suffolk police say
A car carrying one or more people believed to be fleeing after a burglary on Sunday, April 12, 2015, smashed into a Shirley florist shop, police said. Credit: John Roca
A car with one or more people inside believed to be fleeing after committing a Shirley home burglary crashed into a nearby florist shop Sunday afternoon, Suffolk police said.
Seventh Precinct officers responded to a 1:38 p.m. call of a burglary at a home on William Floyd Parkway in Shirley, police said.
A 2006 Chevrolet matching the description of a vehicle wanted in connection with the burglary fled the scene and crashed into Flowers by Floyd Harbor at 464 William Floyd Pkwy. in Shirley, police said.
There were no injuries, police said. Also unclear was whether any of the suspected burglars were arrested.
James Baguth, co-owner of the flower shop, was in the middle of a consultation with a couple planning a July wedding in the Hamptons when the Chevy came crashing into his store.
"I was sitting with a bride and groom, and all of a sudden a car just came and hit the building," said Baguth, who said he saw the gray vehicle hit the building through a window.
He said no one was injured, but four men exited the vehicle upon impact and took off running.
James Baguth, of Flowers by Floyd Harbor, stands near the car that hit the side of his flower shop on Sunday, April 12, 2015. Credit: John Roca
"People were yelling at them to stop," said Baguth, 30. "I've never seen people run so fast. . . . My groom ran after one of them."
A Suffolk police spokeswoman could not immediately verify Baguth's account.
Baguth said the car struck the corner of the building but didn't breach the structure and caused only minimal damage. He said he called 911 and police arrived "within seconds."
"We were really lucky," Baguth said. "He hit the corner of the building. The whole front of the car is totaled."
As for his clients, he said they weren't too fazed: "We were talking about centerpieces. They want something tall with branches."
Nicole Fuller is Newsday's senior criminal justice reporter. She began working at Newsday in 2012 and previously covered local government.
