Crime Nearby: Pet Theft, Holdups

A roundup of crimes and police activity in other Long Island communities.

Huntington

Police are searching for a woman who stole an expensive puppy from a pet store in Huntington Station Friday.

According to police, an unknown white female walked into Canine Corral and stole a white Bichon Frise puppy, valued at $1,300, from the open pen where the dog was kept. The woman, described by police as being 25-35 years old and heavyset, fled the store with the puppy in her large handbag. She was wearing a hooded sweatshirt with bold stripes. 

Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-220-TIPS.

Levittown

Nassau County Police say they found Michael Goettelman, 39, of Hicksville, breaking and damaging items inside a home last week while holding a knife. Police also allege that Goettelman later repeatedly kicked the door of the holding cell he was held in. He eventually kicked the door open, injuring a police officer in the process. Goettelman was transferred to a local hospital for observation.

Goettelman is charged with assault on a police officer, second-degree burglary, third and fourth-degree criminal mischief and third-degree menacing.

Syosset

A spate of graffiti attacks have been reported in the Syosset and Plainview area. There have also been reports of major thefts, but only one burglary report, this one in Oyster Bay.

Babylon

The woman who may be linked to another woman suspected of   Bank on Deer Park Avenue on March 27, and on April 4, was arrested yesterday. Jean Coughlin, of Bay Shore, was apprehended in Deer Park while she attempted to rob the Chase Bank at 615 Grand Blvd. Coughlin, 45, was detained at the scene by a bank customer and charged with three counts of robbery in the third degree. According to police, she is the prime suspect in two other Suffolk County robberies earlier this year.

Coughlin's getaway driver Jesse Stewart, 37, of Riverhead was arrested and charged with one count of robbery later that day.

Great Neck

Nassau County Police need the public's help in their investigation of a burglary that occurred in Great Neck last week.

Detectives from the Sixth Squad say an 81-year-old woman was sitting in her home when she was confronted by a man in her living room. 

When she asked the man who he was and why he was in her home, the man said he was from the and needed access to her rear yard for a fence installation, according to detectives. The woman said she was going to call the police, and the man fled her home through a side door.

Her 87-year-old husband, while standing outside their home, was also confronted by a man, who asked if he could take him into the rear yard.

Detectives ask anyone with information regarding this incident to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS.

An arrest does not establish guilt. Defendants are presumed innocent.