LI gas prices decline, Lynbrook mortgage scammer arrested, LIRR eases commute for Christmas and other LI headline stories for December 20th, 2011

LongIsland.com

Gas Prices on the Island Continue to Fall; Armed Robbery in Mineola, Clerk Left Tied Up; Man Arrested for Running a Mortgage Scam in Lynrbook; LIRR Makes Christmas Commute Easier for Eastbound Riders; Homeless Man ...

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Gas Prices on the Island Continue to Fall

Gas prices on Long Island have fallen 3.4 cents in the last week and about 10 cents in the last month, averaging $3.51 per gallon as of Sunday, December 18th. Residents are not necessarily set at ease because of the dropping prices as gas per gallon is still 26.4 cents higher than on the same date one year ago, setting record highs for the American Christmas season. The Gas Sale gas station on Islip Avenue in Central Islip, as of Monday morning, was selling gas at $3.29 per gallon, the lowest of any gas station on the Island.

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Armed Robbery in Mineola, Clerk Left Tied Up

After opening up shop Monday morning at Convenient Kitchen and Bath on Willis Avenue, a 65-year-old store clerk was tied up when a man with a black handgun entered the store demanding money. The perpetrator left with a computer, cash and the clerk’s gold ring but not before taping the clerk to a chair. After freeing himself the store clerk called police who responded to the scene. No injuries were sustained. The suspect is described as a white male, between 5’10”-6’, approximately 200 lbs, clean shaven, and wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and dark sunglasses. Detectives ask that anyone with information call Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS.

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Man Arrested for Running a Mortgage Scam in Lynbrook

Ryan Visda, 30, of Brooklyn has been arrested for operating a loan-modification company out of Lynbrook after allegedly stealing $11,000 from a Lynbrook woman. Visda ran the company, known as National Recovery Processing, and claimed to modify the victims existing home loan but never submitted any paper work to a legitimate banking agency though he continued to collect checks from the victim and deposited them in his personal business account. Visda is charged with grand larceny 3rd degree, possession of a forged instrument 2nd degree, and falsifying business records.

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LIRR Makes Christmas Commute Easier for Eastbound Riders

The Long Island Rail Road is will have an additional 14 eastbound trains leaving Penn Station on Friday afternoon to accommodate riders leaving work early for the Christmas Weekend. LIRR train services will return to a regular schedule on Saturday for Christmas Eve but will operate on a holiday schedule Christmas Day and a regular weekday schedule for Monday, December 26th. Customers can call 511 for additional information or visit the LIRR’s website, http://www.mta.info.

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Homeless Man Arrested for Attacking Pizza Delivery Man

A homeless man was arrested when police caught him after a second attack on a pizza delivery man. 26-year-old Anthony J. Pannell ordered a pizza from Papa John’s Pizza on Hempstead Turnpike on December 10th. When the delivery man arrived at a home on Washington Street Pannell grabbed the pizza from the driver and ran off. On December 13th, Pannell ordered from the same pizza parlor and upon delivery to the same address Pannell threw bleach at the 21-year-old driver, took the pizza and ran. The driver was not hurt in the incident. On Sunday, Pannell tried his luck again but an employee recognized the incoming phone number and alerted police. To Pannell’s surprise, a police officer showed up instead of a pizza. He has been arrested and charged with robbery.

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