Man Robbed Suffolk Businesses To Fuel Heroin Addiction: Police

RONKONKOMA, NY - A Ronkonkoma man was charged on Friday for robbing several Suffolk businesses last week in order to fuel his heroin addiction, according to Suffolk Police.

Last week, police announced they were looking for a man with "distinctive tattoos" including one on the top of his hand for several armed robberies in the area.

On Friday at about 6:55 a.m., officers were attempting to arrested Daniel Flinn, who was found hiding in the ceiling, on an unrelated parole warrant at his home on Breeze Avenue when they noticed he had similarities to the man described in the robberies, police said.

He also saw a vehicle that matched the description of the car that the robber used, police said.

After an investigation, detectives determined Flinn was the man responsible for the robberies.

According to police, he was arrested for robbing the following businesses at gunpoint:

• Rite Aid on 1968 Veterans Memorial Highway in Smithtown, on August 13.
• Burger King on 2250 North Ocean Avenue in Farmingville, on August 16·
• Dunkin' Donuts on 1275 Veterans Memorial Highway in Hauppauge on August 17.
• 7-Eleven on at 2140 Motor Parkway in Islandia on August 18.

Flinn was charged with parole violation and four counts of first degree robbery.

“As in many cases, he committed crimes to steal money to fuel his addiction. He was a heroin addict,” Commissioner Timothy Sini said. “He’s lucky to be alive and better off in handcuffs.”

He will be arraigned at a later date.