Burglar Found Hiding in Ceiling of Long Island CVS: Police

A West Hempstead man was arrested early Wednesday morning after he was found hiding in the ceiling of a CVS in Levittown he was burglarizing, police said.

According to police, Manuel Romero, 18, of Essex Street, broke into the CVS at 2970 Hempstead Turnpike through the store's drive-through area around 2:27 a.m. Once inside, police say that Romero stole five bottles of cough syrup that contained codeine.

When Romero was trying to leave the store, officers had already arrived on the scene, police said. Police say that Romero tried to hide in the ceiling of the store to avoid capture. Emergency Service officers and K-9 officers responded to the scene and conducted an extensive search of the entire building. They located Romero hiding in the ceiling above the freezers in the store, police say. He was arrested without incident.

After his arrest, police say Romero confessed to burglarizing the Dairy Mart, located at 100 Division Ave. in Levittown, three times: on Nov. 12, 24 and 26. Police say he stole $7,000 in cash, cigarettes and e-cigarettes.

Romero is charged with four counts of third-degree burglary. He is scheduled to be arraigned today in First District Court in Hempstead.

Photo courtesy Nassau County Police Department