Police Charge Two with Year-Long CVS Robbery Spree Across Nassau County

Nassau Police arrested two men for a year-long robbery spree that targeted CVS stores across the county.

According to detectives, between Sept. 29, 2015 and Sept. 21, 2016, Gavriel Charalambous, 28, of Levittown, and Frank Merlo, 29, of Wantagh, allegedly entered 14 CVS stores located throughout Nassau County and stole more than $3,000 of merchandise.

A loss prevention officer (who had prior knowledge of the numerous larcenies) observed Charalambous as he entered a CVS located in Massapequa at 1:15 p.m. on Wednesday. The police were notified and the investigation led to the arrest of Charalambous at another CVS, located at 2419 Hempstead Turnpike in East Meadow.

As the investigation continued, Merlo was arrested at his home at 1:55 a.m. on Thursday.

The stores that were robbed were:

• Sept. 29, 2015 -- 310 Hillside Ave., New Hyde Park, NY
• Jan. 28, 2016 -- 1220 Peninsula Blvd, Hewlett, NY
• March 30, 2016 -- 640 Franklin Ave., Franklin Square, NY
• April 4 -- 814 West Hempstead Ave., West Hempstead, NY
• Sept. 4, 2016 -- 417 North Broadway, Jericho, NY
• Sept. 10, 2016 -- 2291 Merrick Road, Merrick, NY
• Sept. 11, 2016 -- 419 South Oyster Bay Road, Plainview, Ny
• Sept. 11, 2016 -- 777 South Oyster Bay Road, Bethpage, NY
• Sept. 11, 2016 -- 417 North Broadway, Jericho, NY
• Sept. 13, 2016 -- 419 South Oyster Bay Road, Plainview, Ny
• Sept. 13, 2016 -- 2970 Hempstead Turnpike, Levittown, NY
• Sept. 14, 2016 -- 310 Hillside Ave., New Hyde Park, NY
• Sept. 17, 2016 -- 417 North Broadway, Jericho, NY

The two are each charged with one count of third degree grand larceny. Because all the stores are owned by CVS, it is counted as one victim. They were scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday in First District Court in Hempstead.

Photo: Google Maps.