Around 1:38 a.m. Thursday, March 26, police were called to a burglary in progress at a gas station on Powerhouse Road in Roslyn Heights. By the time officers arrived, the front door had been shattered and the suspects were already gone, along with a cash register.
But they didn’t get far.
According to Nassau County detectives, officers quickly canvassed the area and located three men nearby, leading to a swift arrest that brought the break-in to an abrupt end.
Investigators say the suspects, identified as Edwin Rodriguez, 20, William Taft, 19, and Shamel Stilley, 24, all of Brooklyn, allegedly smashed their way into the gas station and fled with the register in hand.
As detectives dug deeper, they uncovered something more.
Police say the same group had also targeted another nearby business just moments earlier – Holiday Farms on Roslyn Road. There, investigators allege the suspects pried open a rear door and attempted to break into a cash register before fleeing empty-handed.
The quick response by officers ultimately tied both incidents together.
All three men were taken into custody without incident. Rodriguez faces additional charges for allegedly possessing burglary tools.
They are scheduled to be arraigned Friday at First District Court in Hempstead.
