New Jersey man charged in attempted roof scam in Nassau

A New Jersey man is facing charges in connection with an attempted leaky roof scam on a pair of Nassau County homeowners, police said.

Terry McDonagh, 29, of Keansburg, was apprehended by Sixth Squad detectives Monday at 11:15 a.m. in Greenvale while three alleged co-conspirators escaped on foot, authorities said.

McDonagh is charged with second- and third-degree criminal mischief, and third- and fourth-degree attempted grand larceny.

He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Tuesday at First District Court in Hempstead and was released on his own recognizance.

On Monday, an unidentified man knocked on the door of a home on Maple Street in Greenvale and told the 82-year-old owner that his roof was leaking, police said.

The suspect asked the victim to come outside to see the problem while a second man placed a ladder against the house and went to show the victim a piece of wood on the roof covering a hole, detectives said.

A third suspect, meanwhile, entered the home with the victim and inspected a hole in the ceiling sheetrock which he claimed was caused due to the damaged roof, authorities said. The third suspect then requested a $20,000 certified check to repair the roof and purchase the needed machinery, police said.

The victim told the men to return later in the day and, after they left, contacted police.

As detectives were investigating the incident, they were notified that a group of men fitting the same description had just knocked on the door of a Marks Place home in Roslyn Heights claiming to work for the Roslyn Water District, police said.

The men told the female homeowner that she had a damaged roof that they could repair, officials said. The victim refused to open the door and told the men to leave. The suspects left the scene in a gold-colored SUV, authorities said.

Shortly thereafter, detectives spotted a 2006 gold Toyota Highlander with a ladder traveling south on Mineola Avenue. Detectives activated their emergency lights, instructing the Toyota to stop but the vehicle fled south and crashed in the vicinity of High Street, police said. The four men inside the vehicle fled on foot. Only McDonagh was apprehended.

Anyone with information about the scam or the other three suspects is asked to call Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 800-244-TIPS or 911. All callers will remain anonymous.

Nassau police urged the community to be wary of potential scams, and said soliciting for home repairs without a license is often in violation of town code.

By Robert Brodsky

robert.brodsky@newsday.com@BrodskyRobert

Robert Brodsky is a breaking news reporter who has worked at Newsday since 2011. He is a Queens College and American University alum.