Crime & Safety
Duo Nabbed In String Of 9 Armed Hold-Ups, Attempts Across Suffolk: Police
They were picked up after a 911 call was received of a second robbery at a gas station in Holtsville Wednesday, Suffolk cops say.
SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — Two people have been arrested in connection with seven armed robberies and attempted robberies over nine-days across Suffolk County, including two at the same gas station off of the Long Island Expressway in Holtsville, police said.
Investigators determined the subjects were responsible after they were nabbed following the second robbery at the gas station, according to police.
The robbery spree, which spanned from Dec. 9 and 18, started at BP Gas on Smithtown Boulevard in Nesconset, then was followed by another one the next day at Bolla Market on Portion Road in Holtsville at around 12:34 a.m., police said.
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The duo struck at Amoco on Express Drive South in Holtsville for the first time on Dec. 10 just before 1 a.m., according to police.
The incidents included an attempted robbery at 7-Eleven on Lakeland Avenue in Bohemia at around 2:24 a.m. on Tuesday, followed by a robbery around 10 minutes later at 2:35 a.m. at 7-Eleven on Lowell Avenue in Islip Terrace, police said.
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On Wednesday, they struck Bolla Market on Veterans Memorial Highway in Ronkonkoma on Wednesday just after 2 a.m., and they weren't caught until they hit Amoco in Holtsville for a second time, according to police.
Officers from the 6th Precinct in Selden responded to the gas station at around 2:27 a.m. after a 911 caller reported an armed robbery, police said, adding that a description of the suspects’ vehicle was broadcast, and a short time later, an officer pulled it over and the pair inside was arrested.
It was then determined that they had taken part in the other six robberies, according to police.
Danuel Bragaglia 27, of Holbrook, and Alexander Zaccaria, 31, of Nesconset, were charged with five counts of first-degree robbery. Zaccaria was charged with an additional two counts of first-degree robbery.
The duo are scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday at First District Court in Central Islip.
It was not immediately clear if they have legal representation.
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