5 teens charged in Syosset business burglaries, Nassau police say

Five teenagers have been charged in connection with burglaries and criminal mischief at multiple Syosset businesses ranging from a bakery to a cleaner to a wine store, Nassau police said. 

Police responded after glass was broken at seven businesses on Cold Spring Road, two on Berry Hill Road, two on Jackson Avenue, and one on Ira Road, police said. "A subsequent investigation" led detectives to the MercyFirst facility in Syosset, and five teens from the facility were taken into custody, police said.

MercyFirst is a nonprofit social service agency on Convent Road in Syosset that offers short-term residential intervention, family support and youth development, according to their website.

Two 16-year-olds, a boy and a girl, were charged with eight counts of burglary and four counts of felony criminal mischief.

According to the Nassau district attorney's office the male's bail was set at $250,00 bond, $100,000 cash or $1 million partially secured bond. The female was released with electronic monitoring, a curfew and random drug testing required.

Also arrested were a 15-year-old girl and two 14-year-old boys, who are also facing burglary and criminal mischief charges. They are scheduled to appear in Family Court on June 21 in Westbury, police said.

In a statement, a MercyFirst spokesman said, "We are extremely saddened that local businesses were vandalized and stolen from and disappointed that young people from our campus allegedly participated. We do not tolerate this behavior and are devastated that our local businesses have been harmed in this manner. We have taken immediate action, are cooperating fully with the local authorities in their investigation ..."

The businesses broken into were: Cardinali Bakery, Y Cleaners, Arata Sushi, Village Pharmacy, Syosset Wine Cellar, Bagel Master and J’s Market, all on Cold Spring Road; Kam Garden and Aboffs Paint on Berry Hill Road; Orange Theory and Danny's Chinese Kitchen on Jackson Avenue; and La Bottega on Ira Road.

Vadim Nayman, the owner of Bagel Master, said his business suffered a “few thousand” dollars in damage. The family-owned business since 1990 has had two other break-ins over 30 years, he said. “Our front door was broken which was a glass door,” he said. “It was kicked in. We had a register that was on the floor that was destroyed.”

Lenny Simon, the owner of Village Pharmacy, said the back door of the store was broken and the suspects “emptied out the register” which contained under $100.

With Cecilia Dowd and Keldy Ortiz