Homeless Man Broke Into Lake Ronkonkoma Auto Zone: Police

LAKE RONKONKOMA, NY – A homeless man was arrested after he broke into a Lake Ronkonkoma Auto Zone early Friday, Suffolk Police said.

Police responded to the store at 595 Portion Road at 2:54 a.m. after an alarm was set off in the building.

Sixth Precinct Patrol Officer Andrew Derose and Canine Officer Ralph Dimasi responded and set up a perimeter. Dimasi heard someone running on the roof and requested Emergency Service Section officers to respond.

Emergency Service Section officers Thomas Russo and Christopher Davis responded to the roof. With communication with Dimasi from the ground, Russo and Davis found a crawl space behind a Planet Fitness sign, where they found Brian Kainzbauer hiding, police said.

An investigation revealed that Kainzbauer had lowered himself into the store using a rope after gaining access to the ceiling rafters, police said.

Kainzbauer, 26, was charged with third degree burglary and fifth degree criminal possession of stolen property. He will be held overnight at the Sixth Precinct and is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip Saturday.