Man Arrested for String of Crimes

Suffolk County Police arrested a man on Thursday, June 5 for a series of robberies, attempted robbery, burglary and attempted burglary during the months of May and June.

According to police, a man entered Kentucky Fried Chicken at 210 E. Main St. in Bay Shore on June 3 wearing a mask, with a brown paper bag over his left hand, implying that he had a gun at approximately 10:40 p.m. The suspect allegedly fled with proceeds from the store. A short time later, a man entered a 7-Eleven at 12 Saxon Ave. in Bay Shore, also wearing a mask, with a brown paper bag over his left hand at approximately 11:30 p.m. The suspect reportedly left the store without any proceeds.

Surveillance video was provided to Third Precinct Police Officers James Brucculeri and Jose Cardus who recognized the clothing of a man they had interviewed earlier in the day. Brucculeri and Cardus, along with the assistance of Police Officer Dana Rodriguez, began canvassing the Bay Shore area and located Joseph Broekhuisen at Park Avenue and Mechanicsville Road at 7:25 p.m. Broekhuisen, 23, who is homeless, was transported to the Third Precinct where he was interviewed by detectives and arrested.

Broekhuisen, in addition to admitting to both robberies on June 3, acknowledged that he had robbed a Dunkin’ Donuts on Route 27 in Bay Shore on May 27, and a 7-Eleven on Little East Neck Road in West Babylon on May 17. Broekhuisen also admitted that he burglarized West Babylon Cards and Gifts on Sunrise Highway, West Babylon and that he attempted to burglarize Nanitos Deli on Little East Neck Road in West Babylon on May 19.

Broekhuisen was charged with three counts of Robbery 1st Degree, Attempted Robbery 1st Degree, Burglary 3rd Degree and Attempted Burglary 3rd Degree. He is being held at the Third Precinct and is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on June 5.

Caption: Joseph Broekhuisen. Photo courtesy of the Suffolk County Police Department.