Armed Robbery Of Beach Bum Tanning Salon Latest In LI Spree, Cops Say
HUNTINGTON STATION, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Police are investigating another armed robbery in Suffolk County believed to be linked to a string of robberies across Long Island, according to police.
Beach Bum Tanning on Jericho Turnpike in Huntington station was held up by an armed gunman at around 8:30 p.m. Friday, according to police.
The suspect demanded two female employees to go to the back of the store, where they were then tied up. The suspect then took the money out of the register and fled the scene, according to police.
No one was injured in the incident, police said.
Investigators said the same suspect could be linked to up to 13 different robberies across Long Island since September.
"We do believe that this is a pattern robbery, meaning that it is the same individual committing these robberies," Suffolk County Deputy Police Commissioner Timothy Sini said.
In all of these cases, the tactics are the same, with the suspect using duct tape, rope and cloth wrist ties to bind employees and sometimes shoppers, CBS2's Ilana Gold reported.
At a Rainbow store in Lindenhurst on Nov. 2, the suspect stole directly from the customers. A New York & Company store in West Babylon was also robbed on Oct 12.
On Nov. 23, a Pier 1 Imports, also on Jericho Turnpike in Huntington Station, was also targeted.
A Petco in Hicksville was also targeted, WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reported.
Police said the pattern also typically targets stores with female workers, which is why Herb Rosenblatt sat in his car waiting for his wife outside the hair salon right next to the tanning place.
"Normally, she would drive here to get her hair done on her own," he told CBS2's Steve Langford. "I said, 'not this morning.'"
Police are currently searching for a suspect and are offering a $5,000 reward for anyone with information on the incidents.