It was the kind of quiet, middle-of-the-night moment most Long Islanders never think twice about. But around 2:30 a.m. on March 3, someone was moving through a residential stretch of Birchwood Drive in Middle Island, checking cars.
According to Suffolk County Police, a man approached an unoccupied, unlocked vehicle and took what he found inside: headphones and cash. No smashed windows. No alarms. Just a quick opportunity and a quick exit.
For the victim, it’s the kind of unsettling reminder that even in your own neighborhood, a simple mistake like leaving a car unlocked can turn into a crime scene.
Now, investigators with the Sixth Precinct Crime Section and Suffolk County Crime Stoppers are working to identify the man responsible.
And this is where the story could turn.
Police believe someone out there knows exactly who he is.
Suffolk County Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information can submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS, using the P3 Tips mobile app, or visiting www.P3Tips.com. All tips remain confidential.
For now, the suspect is still out there.
And police are hoping one call changes that.
Photo: SCPD.
