Robbers keep business manager at bay for hours while stealing equipment, cops say

Three robbers took off with money, heating and air conditioning equipment and a box truck from a Riverhead business, Riverhead Town police said Wednesday in asking for the public's help to solve the case.

One had a gun when they confronted the manager of MCN Distributors on Main Road just before 8:30 p.m. Tuesday and loaded the goods onto a company truck, police said.

MCN manager Jason Kwasna said one gunman held him at bay the entire time as the other two robbers packed the truck with air conditioners. They would drive off, unload and return to put more air conditioners into the truck -- repeatedly, the manager said.

"One guy would stay with me while the other guys drove and did what they did," said Kwasna, who had been working by himself after closing hours.

He was unnerved for the two to three hours that the entire operation took, he said; "I was thinking I have four kids and a wife at home. That's all I was thinking about."

After the truck was filled a fourth time, the masked robbers left for good, the manager said.

The vehicle was later found on Reeves Avenue near Doctors Path, police said.

Police did not release other details.

Kwasna said he is still tabulating what and how much was stolen.

He said he won't be working late anymore and that a security system with cameras will be installed.

Detectives ask anyone with any information to call 631-727-4500 ext. 302.