Crime Nearby: NYPD Officer from West Babylon Killed In Line of Duty

Plainview 

An animal sitter staged a burglary in her Plainview customer's home, ripping him off for about $6,000 in computers, jewelry and collectibles, Nassau Police detectives said Monday.

Lauren, B. Azie, 23, of 23 Theodore Dr., Plainview, was charged Monday with grand larceny after selling off some of the proceeds to a Hicksville pawn shop, detectives said. She was scheduled to be arraigned on the charges Monday.

Azie was hired to pet-sit by a 41-year-old Plainview man at his Northern Parkway residents between Oct. 24 and Nov. 2, police said. 

On Nov. 2, Azie staged a burglary at the victim's home, taking two lap tops, assorted jewelry and collectible items, valued at about $6,000, police said. The next day, Azie pawned some of the jewelry; the balance of the proceeds have not been recovered, police said.

Detectives believe Azie could have been involved in other area crimes. They are urging residents to contact the Nassau County Police or their local police department if they have suspicions.

The Plainview area has been plagued by in recent months.

While investigating a burglary in Bethpage Thursday night, Nassau County Police wound up in a manhunt that led to the arrest of a drug suspect, Nassau police said Friday.

Officers from the 8th Precinct were called to a home on Dorset Lane in Bethpage Thursday evening where the owner had reported a burglary. During the burglary investigation, officers who were canvassing the area noticed a suspicious vehicle with two people inside, police said

Officers approached the car and witnessed a suspected drug deal in progress, police said. Police said the suspected drug deal was in no way connected to the burglary report. "They had nothing to do with the burglary," a police spokesman said.

As the officers closed in, at least one suspect fled the car with Nassau police on foot in hot pursuit.

A manhunt ensued involving multiple police units, criss-crossing the border between Bethpage and Plainview, police and eyewitnesses reported to Patch. The search was in the general vicinity of South Oyster Bay Road between Old Country Road and Stewart Avenue.

At least one eyewitness reported a police helicopter and K-9 units were used in the hunt for the elusive suspect.

The fleeing man was apprehended a short time later; police had not identified the suspect Friday afternoon.

Syosset

A Plainview man faces charges of public lewdness after police say he exposed himself to a woman with a child on Circle Drive in Syosset.

Second Squad Detectives said a 36-year-old woman was walking with a child in a stroller on Circle Drive Monday morning when Bradis Bonilla, 24 of Plainview,  exposed himself to her from the front seat of his car. The woman caught the car's plate number and called the police.

Through an investigation, detectives found Bonilla responsible for a similar incident on Thursday when a 54-year-old woman was walking her dog on Virginia Road in Syosset. The driver, who drove a car similar to Bonilla's, exposed himself to her as he drove slowly past, police said.

Detectives located and arrested Bonilla Monday afternoon and found him in possession of marijuana, police said.

Bonilla is charged with two counts of public lewdness and one count of unlawful possession of marijuana. He has been released and was given a desk appearance ticket.

Bellmore

Charles Hess Jr., 46, of Farmingdale was arrested Nov. 2 on Merrick Road and charged with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, reckless driving and seven violations of the vehicle and traffic law.

West Babylon

A highly decorated New York City police officer who lived in West Babylon was shot and killed Monday morning.

Peter Figoski, 47, was responding to a break-in Monday morning at a Brooklyn apartment. Police say the 22-year veteran was killed by one of the suspects hiding inside the apartment when officers arrived, according to a report in the Huffington Post. Figoski was pronounced dead at 7:17 a.m. at a hospital just hours after the shooting, police said.

Lamont Pride, 27, has been arrested and now faces murder charges.

According to the Post article, Figoski had more than 200 arrests in his career and received 12 medals, including eight for exceptional police duty.

Babylon Village

Suffolk Police search teams are returning to Oak Beach marshland in the continuing quest to find Shannan Gilbert, a 24-year-old New Jersey escort who went missing 19 months ago.

It was a search for Gilbert, last seen on May 1, 2010 fleeing a home in Oak Beach, that led the discovery of the first of 10 sets of human remains along Ocean Parkway between Robert Moses Causeway and Jones Beach this past year.

Smithtown

Michael Loubier, 35, of Ronkonkoma, was arrested Nov. 27 in Smithtown and charged with petty larceny. Reports state Loubier was arrested on Veterans Memorial Highway for allegedly making deliveries for Leonardo's Pizza Cafe in Hauppauge without giving the pizzeria any money.