The Eighth Squad reports the arrest of two males for a Burglary that occurred on May 28, 2023, at 3:34 a.m. in Hicksville.
According to detectives, two subjects threw a large stone through a window of a 7-Eleven located on 11 East Old Country Road. Both then entered the premise, removing New York State scratch off tickets totaling approximately $9,742.00 USC and fled the scene prior to police arrival.
On May 9, 2023, at approximately 11:17 p.m. a subject threw a large stone through the front glass door of the Circle K store located at 125 Bloomingdale Road, Hicksville. A second subject helped in removing New York State scratch off tickets totaling approximately $6,050.00 USC from the store and both fled prior to police arrival.
On April 29, 2023, at approximately 4:34 p.m. both subjects scanned in the stolen lottery tickets located at a business store located at 199 Merritts Road in South Farmingdale.
After a thorough investigation, defendant Justin Rodrigues, 22, of 4309 Ludwig Lane, Bethpage and defendant Nicholas Arena, 21, of 72 Magaw Place, West Babylon were arrested without incident. Subsequent to the investigation an illegal 9mm ghost gun was recovered from defendant Justin Rodriguez.
Defendants Justin Rodriguez and Nicolas Arena are both being charged with Burglary in the 3rd Degree, Criminal Mischief in the 3rd Degree, and four (4) counts of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the 4th Degree. Additionally, defendant Justin Rodriguez is being charged with one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd Degree and one count of Criminal Possession in the 3rd Degree. They will be arraigned on Thursday, June 1, 2023, at First District Court, 99 Main Street, Hempstead.