‘Suspicious’ fire linked to 7-Eleven robbery

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Valley Stream firefighters fought a “suspicious” blaze in a tractor-trailer and an adjacent mini-bus in the Toys "R" Us parking lot on Sunrise Highway on Sept. 30. Police said the mini-bus was used earlier that morning in the armed robbery of a Hewlett 7-Eleven.

“As of right now, it’s deemed a suspicious fire … The fire definitely started on the bus and extended over to the [tractor-trailer],” said Valley Stream Fire Chief James Ervolino.

Although two drivers were found sleeping in the tractor-trailer at 8:30 a.m. when the fire was spotted, according to first responders, they were able to flee the vehicle and no injuries were reported. The tractor-trailer contained various kinds of alcohol.

Police said the 7-Eleven robbery occurred at 8:05 a.m., when a black man entered the store at 415 Mill Rd. The clerk opened the cash register and police said the suspect displayed a black semi-automatic handgun.

He pulled the register drawer out, dumped the money into an empty cardboard box with an unknown amount of cigarettes and stole a second register drawer before fleeing the scene, police said. Police said the man was described as wearing black pants, a black sweatshirt and a black baseball cap.

Arson and bomb squad detectives impounded the mini-bus for further investigation. Detectives request anyone with information regarding the above crime to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.