Crime & Safety
Mastic Man Wielding Baseball Bat Swipes Cash In Center Moriches Burglary: Police
No one was hurt, Suffolk police say.
CENTER MORICHES, NY — A Mastic man wielding a baseball made off with some cash from a Center Moriches resident in a burglary on Thursday, Suffolk police said.
Robert Smith, 34, was arrested after he went inside a Hallock Lane home and threatened a resident with a baseball bat while demanding cash at around 7 p.m., police said, adding that the person complied and Smith bolted.
No one was hurt, police said.
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Smith was found a short time later and detectives from the 7th Squad in Shirley charged him with first-degree burglary, a felony, according to police.
Smith pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in First District Court in Central Islip and a temporary order of protection was issued, online court records show.
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Bail was set at $50,000, $100,000 insured bond, or $500,000 partially secured surety bond, the records show.
He is being represented by the Legal Aid Society, which does not comment on cases.
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