Two 21-year-old men have been accused of committing a string of home burglaries and attempted home burglaries in Patchogue and East Patchogue over the past month.
Suffolk County police officers arrested Philip Mazzola of Patchogue at 1 p.m. Thursday after stopping his Nissan Altima that matched the description of a car seen on Corbin Avenue at the time 911 callers reported a suspicious man in a backyard, authorities said.
Officers also arrested Richard Crane of Bellport while he was walking around the neighborhood a block away, police said.
Crane and Mazzola tried to burglarize another home on Shady Tree Lane in East Patchogue earlier the same day, police said. They also allegedly burglarized a home on North Summit Street in Patchogue on Dec. 20 and two other houses in East Patchogue on Knot Street and Denise Drive on Jan. 8.
Crane and Mazzola were charged with three counts of burglary and two counts of attempted burglary. They will be arraigned Friday at First District Court in Central Islip.
Fifth Squad detectives believe the two men, who were knocking on neighborhood doors looking for unoccupied homes, might be responsible for other burglaries in the area in the same timeframe. The investigation is continuing.
Police ask anyone with information is asked to call anonymously to Crimes Stopper at 1-800-220-TIPS. All Calls will be kept confidential.
