Crime Watch

Police: Two men pose as cops to rob East Meadow father, son

Posted

UPDATE 12:27 p.m. 10/26/16

Two men posed as police officers to rob an East Meadow Vietnamese father and son of nearly $4,000, Nassau County officers said.

Officers said the robbery took place on Little Whaleneck Road at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday. According to reports, the 78-year-old father, who speaks no English, was raking leaves in front of his home when he was approached by a man who is described as "dressed in a black uniform type shirt and black pants."

The father was later led by the suspect to the backyard and into the home where his 49-year-old son, who speaks English, said the suspect "advised the son that he was there to search the residence and asked if there were any guns, knives or drugs in the home."

At a press conference on Wednesday, Nassau County Police Detective Lieutenant Richard LeBrun said the suspects asked the victims if there was also money in the home.

Once the suspect was inside the home, he pulled out a walkie talkie and notified another suspect to enter the home. The victims said the second suspect was also wearing a black uniform shirt and black pants. Both suspects later urged the victims, including the son's 73-year-old mother and 43-year-old sister, to hide in the downstairs bathroom and stay there while the suspects rummaged through the house after displaying what the victims believed to be a police badge.

LeBrun said at no point in time did the suspects identify themselves as police, the victims assumed the men were police even though "they bore no police lettering on their clothing or patches."

Unhurt, LeBrun said the victims waited in the bathroom until 5 p.m. before walking out and searching their home for missing items. They later found the suspects stole $3,000 from the father's room and $850 from the son's wallet.

LeBrun said because the family speak broken or little English, that could have been a contributing factor to being targeted. He said the suspects did not use force or violence nor display any weapons.

The first suspect was described as a white 40-year-old man with short black hair, approximately between 5 feet 8 inches and 5 feet 11 inches tall. The second suspect was described as a white man in his 40s with short dark hair.

LeBrun said neighbors around the area and in surrounding communities should be cautious. "We have intensified patrol around the area but I'd like to give some tips," LeBrun said. "Always request proper I.D. An officer will always display a shield and photo identification. If you're unsure, call 911. Dispatches will be able to verbally confirm if a patrol was dispatched to that area."

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS.