Five men have been arrested for a three-month robbery spree after four of the suspects allegedly held up a Bay Shore pharmacy at gunpoint this week, Suffolk County police said.
Three masked men armed with handguns used zip ties to tie up four women who were closing Health Mart Pharmacy on Candlewood Road shortly before 9 p.m. Tuesday, police said. The suspects fled with cash, jewelry, cell phones and the store’s video surveillance recorder, but no drugs were stolen, police said.
Investigators apprehended the three alleged robbers and their getaway driver in a Ford Mustang on Wednesday. They recovered the stolen items after executing a search warrant, police said. None of the victims were hurt during the robbery.
Police charged the four men with robbery. They include 17-year-old Carlos Velasquez of Bay Shore, 27-year-old Wilmer Velasquez-Cruz of Brentwood along with Mario Chincilla Rodriguez and Edwin Acosta-Martinez, both 23 and from Huntington Station.
A fifth suspect, 16-year-old Jonathan Portillo of Brentwood, was charged in some of the prior robberies but not the more recent drug store hold up. Velasquez was additionally charged with criminal possession of a weapon.
Police said the some of the suspects also robbed A & D Jewelry on New York Avenue in Huntington Station on Dec. 27, Lempa Deli on Calebs Path in Central Islip on Dec. 30, Off the Track Quick Mart on Deer Park Avenue in Babylon on Jan. 6, Iglesia Universal Church on Suffolk Avenue in Brentwood on Jan. 11, Chapi Deli on W. Hills Road in Huntington Station on Jan. 26 and Mi Tierrita Restaurant on Suffolk Avenue in Brentwood on Feb. 13.
The five men will be arraigned Thursday at First District Court in Central Islip.
Third Squad detectives ask anyone who may have information on any of these robberies to contact them at 631-854-8352 or anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.
