Nassau County police have apprehended four Brooklyn men armed with handguns and sledgehammers who brazenly held up a jewelry store at the upscale Americana mall in Manhasset mid-afternoon Friday, but a fifth suspect is still at large.
Police said the masked suspects wearing blue jumpsuits announced the robbery at the London Jewelers store on Northern Boulevard shortly before 2 p.m., ordered 13 employees and a customer to get on the ground, then smashed display cases with the hammers.
The robbers mostly stole Rolex and Breitling watches watches, although it was not immediately clear how much the watches were worth, police said. The four men then fled in a black Cadillac Escalade driven by a fifth man, who reportedly rammed a patrol car during the ensuing police chase.
The suspects men were arrested after they bailed out of the SUV when the getaway driver got stuck in traffic on the Long Island Expressway.
Two of the men were arrested on a golf course at the Lake Success Country Club. Two others were caught in neighboring Queens. Police are still searching for the fifth man.
Police identified the alleged robbers as Leroy Nelson, 27, Javon Gamble, 31, and 23-year-old Reggie Fowler. The getaway driver was identified as 30-year-old Samuel Cephas.
A handgun believed to have been used during the robbery was recovered, police said. No injuries were reported.
The four men have all been charged with robbery and criminal use of a firearm. Cephas was additionally charged with reckless endangerment and unlawful fleeing of a police officer.
They will all be arraigned Saturday at First District Court in Hempstead.
Detectives request anyone with information regarding this crime to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.
