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Police: 2 Men Charged In 12 Suffolk County Armed Robberies

BLUE POINT, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Two men under surveillance by police have been arrested in connection with a string of armed robberies at gas stations and doughnut shops in Suffolk County.

The arrests came after, police said, one of the men tried to rob a Dunkin' Donuts in Blue Point on Wednesday night.

Police: 2 Men Charged In 12 Suffolk County Armed Robberies

The masked man, identified as 27-year-old Andrew Berger, of Williston Park, walked into the store on Montauk Highway around 9:10 p.m. and pointed a pistol at the cashier, Chief of Department James Burke said.

Detectives then came in and interrupted the robbery, police said.

"When the police entered the establishment, the perpetrator reeled, pointed a pistol at a detective," Burke said. "The detective in turn opened fire, and fired a total of six shots. Fortunately, no one was hit, and the perpetrator was taken into custody."

Berger's alleged accomplice, Matthew McGurk, 25, of Commack, was found waiting in a nearby parked vehicle, police said.

The suspects were wanted in a string of armed robberies that occurred in Sayville, Farmingville, Bohemia, Holbrook, Hunt Station, Deer Park, Commack, Smithtown, St. James and West Hills since Dec. 22, police said.

Police: 2 Men Charged In 12 Suffolk County Armed Robberies

They were under surveillance at the time of the arrests, police said.

Suffolk County Chief of Detectives William Madigan said the alleged crime spree was fueled by addiction.

"Both of them are heroin addicts," Madigan said. "We found a heroin needle on one of the defendants last night subsequent to his arrest."

Burke said the men stole up to $1,000 from each location to feed their heroin habits, WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reported.

Both men have been charged with 12 counts of second-degree robbery.

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