Inwood woman charged in burglary of Lynbrook store

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An Inwood woman was allegedly involved in the theft of an undisclosed amount of money from a store that sells frozen yogurt at 27 Atlantic Ave. in Lynbrook on Feb. 4 at 12:45 p.m., police said.

Monique Mooney, 30, of Westend Avenue in Inwood, and Palo Howe, 37, of Wendell Street in Hempstead, entered 16 Handles and took a seat by the front door, according to police. Mooney distracted the store clerk by asking for different samples of frozen yogurt as Howe walked to the back of the store, went into the employee office and took the money, police said.

An off-duty Nassau County police officer entered the store and noticed Mooney and Howe acting suspiciously, and informed the clerk to check the back room. Mooney and Howe left the store and did not buy anything.

After the clerk told the police officer that money was missing, the officer followed the pair, and in tandem with Lynbrook police officers, found Mooney in the area. Shortly thereafter, Howe was found inside the Earle Avenue firehouse and arrested. The money was found in Howe’s pocket.

Mooney and Howe are each being charged with burglary third-degree. Howe is also being charged with resisting arrest, criminal trespass third-degree and two violations for alcohol in public on an open Long Beach police warrant. Arraigned at First District in Hempstead, both are being held and their next court date is Feb. 8.