Police: Armed trio sought in Flanders robbery, attempted break-in

Three men -- one armed with a box-cutter knife, one with a silver handgun, another with a shotgun -- stole more than $1,000 during a home invasion robbery Tuesday in Flanders, Southampton Town police said.

Police said the robbery occurred at 1:10 a.m. at a home on Flanders Road. It was not immediately clear if the home was targeted.

Police said that just minutes after that robbery was reported, a second incident -- apparently, an attempted home invasion -- was reported at a home on nearby Albany Avenue.

In the Albany Avenue incident, reported at 1:12 a.m., the caller said three men matching the same description had attempted to gain entry to his home by "kicking in the door," police said.

The trio failed in that attempt, police said, fleeing.

Police said one of the suspects was about 6-foot-3 and wore a red hoodie. The other two men were shorter, police said, and wore black hoodies.

The homeowner was not harmed in the robbery.

Though reported after the Flanders Road home invasion, the Albany Avenue attempted robbery is believed to have occurred first, police said.

Police said a search, including a canine team from Riverhead Town police, failed to locate the suspects. Police are requesting that anyone with information about the two incidents call detectives at 631-702-2233 or the Crime Tips Hotline at 631-728-3454.

Tips can also be placed, in email form, at crimetips@southamptontownny.gov. All calls and correspondences will be confidential.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”