Cops: Lindy Chinese Restaurant among Those Hit by Serial Burglar

A Lindenhurst Chinese restaurant was among the Chinese food establishments in both Suffolk and Nassau Counties was hit by a serial burglar caught by Suffolk Police last Thursday.

Police arrested David Thomas, 45, of Wyandanch, in connection with a series of burglaries of Chinese food restaurants in both Suffolk and Nassau counties since 2012, and Lung Hing Kitchen, located at 200 Montauk Highway in Lindenhurst, was among the restaurants burglarized.

According to police, near the end of 2012, detectives became aware of a pattern of break-ins occurring during the overnight hours that targeted Chinese food restaurants.

These burglaries covered six of the Suffolk County’s Police Department’s seven precincts in addition to three Nassau County Police Department’s precincts, cops said.

Initial investigation revealed more than 50 restaurants were targeted, police officials said.

According to the SCPD, the suspect allegedly entered through the front window and typically stole cash from the register.

First Precinct Patrol officers pulled over Thomas on Thursday, April 18, at 2:28 a.m. at Parkway Boulevard in Wyandanch, and arrested him for driving with a suspended license.

After an investigation by First Squad detectives and assisted by other officers and commands in the Suffolk County Police Department, as well as by the Nassau County Police Department, it was determined Thomas was responsible for the Chinese food restaurant burglaries, police officials said.

Thomas was charged with 14 counts of burglary in the third degree, unlicensed operator violations and aggravated unlicensed operator of a vehicle in the third degree.

He was arraigned on Friday, April 19, at First District Court in Central Islip, and is due back in court on April 24, according to court documents.

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