Police cordon off south Merrick streets after armed burglary

Nassau County police blockaded Beach Drive between Ann and Alexis roads in south Merrick Tuesday night, after two men, at least one of whom was armed, attempted to burglarize a home there.

Police are calling it an "occupied burglary." According to detectives, the two men entered a second-floor entrance to a Beach Drive home. After confronting a 20-year-old male occupant of the house, one of the burglars ordered, “Give us your stuff!"

The victim grabbed the armed man's arm to push away the gun and was punched in the face. After separating himself from the two burglars, he ran into another room.

The commotion, which was heard by other occupants of the house, caused them all to retreat into the basement, where they locked the door, called 911 and waited for police. The two burglars then ran off without taking anything.

The 20-year-old victim refused medical treatment.

The suspects were described as:

• A white male, 6 feet tall, in his 20s, with a medium build. He wore a hooded sweatshirt and a purple bandana that covered the lower part of his face.

• A Hispanic male, 5 feet, 11 inches tall, in his 20s, with a medium build. He also wore a hooded sweatshirt and a purple bandana that covered the lower part of his face.

The investigation into the burglary is ongoing, and detectives ask anyone with information about it to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 244-8477 (TIPS). All callers will remain anonymous.

Nearby residents who have the Ring Doorbell security system were alerted about reports of a robbery near Alexis Road and Holiday Park Drive around 5:30 p.m. “I got an alert from my Ring Doorbell, and I came home and I saw the helicopters circling,” said Pauline Ryba, who lives on nearby John Street. Police “said that there was a robbery earlier somewhere between Alexis Road and Holiday Park Drive.” Ryba also reported seeing SWAT teams and ambulances in the neighborhood.

Follow the Herald Life for more updates on this story as it develops.