Nearby robberies similar to yearlong V.S. rash

A recent spate of robberies in Nassau County that involved the use of a knife are being investigated as connected, according to Nassau County police, and the details are similar to robberies committed in Valley Stream and other communities in the past year.

Police said that a man who appeared to be about 25 brandished a large kitchen knife inside a 7-11, at 758 Old Bethpage Road in Old Bethpage, at 12:30 a.m. on March 17. He demanded money from an employee, who was alone in the store, and the employee gave him an undisclosed amount of cash. The man fled on foot north on Old Bethpage Road. No injuries were reported.

Police said the same man is wanted in connection with three other robberies: an incident at Dunkin’ Donuts, at 2062 Lakeview Road in New Hyde Park on March 1 at 11:20 p.m.; an incident at Dunkin’ Donuts, at 156 Manetto Hill Road in Plainview, on March 2 at 9:25 p.m.; and an incident at Dunkin’ Donuts, at 1068 Old Country Road in Plainview, on March 14 at 11:20 p.m.

The man was described as black and 5-foot-8, about 170 pounds and wearing a dark hooded jacket, a dark hat, dark sunglasses, a dark bandana covering his face, dark gloves and baggy blue jeans.

The description and pattern of behavior are similar to the man police are looking for in connection with 21 robberies in Nassau County between February 2015 and January 2016. Sixteen were in Valley Stream. One person was injured in one of those crimes, a clerk at Evan’s Corner, on Rockaway Avenue, in February.

Police and witnesses in Valley Stream said they believed the man watched at least a few of the stores before he robbed them, apparently waiting for customers to leave.