$1.8 Million Burglary Of Armored Car Company On Long Island Foiled By Alert Officer
HICKSVILLE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A group of sophisticated burglars used tools to penetrate a vault of a Long Island armored car company and steal $1.8 million, but were foiled by an alert police officer.
The burglary at the Loomis Armored Inc. warehouse in Hicksville occurred around 10:30 p.m. on Aug. 16.
The men, who wore masks, used a sledgehammer and a hydraulic jack to bust through thick concrete walls and used other tools to break into the vault that held about $20 million, authorities said.
Burglary Of Long Island Armored Car Company Foiled By Alert Officer
"This was a very brazen and sophisticated burglary," said Madeline Singas, Nassau County's acting district attorney.
An officer on patrol that night arrested one of the suspects after observing him acting suspiciously with the trunk of his Volkswagen Jetta open in the parking lot. The cop then chased the man, arrested him and found the cash in his trunk, authorities said.
"It's a lot of money. It's probably one of the biggest heists in Nassau history," Singas told 1010 WINS.
Edgar Medina, 53, of Brentwood, was charged with burglary, grand larceny and possession of burglar tools. His lawyer couldn't immediately be reached for comment.
Surveillance video shows three people with flashlights leaving the building's parking lot. Police believe there were two more suspects in a getaway vehicle, CBS2's Dave Carlin reported.
Nassau County police are offering a $25,000 reward for any information leading to the arrests of the four accomplices.
Police called Medina a career criminal with 10 prior arrests, including for weapons possession.
"Good thing the police were around doing the job and got the work done. That's good," said Steve Mun, who manages a manufacturing business across the street from the Loomis building.
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