Police Offer $5,000 Reward to Catch Restaurant Burglar

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of a man, who police said broke into Nichols restaurant in East Hampton Village on Aug. 31 and stole about $15,000.

Provided by East Hampton Village Police

Sep. 26, 2014

Taylor K. Vecsey

Police are seeking the public's help in identifying a man who burglarized two restaurants on Labor Day weekend and made off with about $20,000.

East Hampton Town and Village police detectives are investigating burglaries at Nichol's on Montauk Highway in the village, which was burglarized in the early morning hours on Aug. 31, and at La Fondita on Montauk Highway in Amagansett the next morning. Approximately $15,000 was stolen from Nichol's and about $5,000 was stolen from La Fondita, according to Village Detective Steven Sheades.

"Right now, it appears that they are connected," he said Friday morning.

Through Suffolk County Crime Stoppers on Friday, police released still images from a surveillance camera. The man is seen wearing a mask with an opening around his eyes, a T-shirt, and what appear to be gloves while he rummaged through an office and a dishwashing area at Nichol's.

Crime Stoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest. Police have asked anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-220-TIPS.

WITH REPORTING BY T.E. MCMORROW