74-Year-Old LI Homeowner Helps Thwart Burglar, Who's Arrested: PD

CORAM, NY — A man was arrested after Suffolk police say he burglarized a Coram home Sunday and tried to do again early Wednesday morning. Only that time, his efforts were thwarted thanks in part to a 74-year-old veteran homeowner, police said.

Richard Cummo, 74, and his wife were in Florida when Edward Marasco, 40, of Coram, broke into their Peter Street home Sunday afternoon by smashing the basement window, police said. Debbie Cummo Whitlock, the couple's daughter, told Patch her parents' car, front house keys, priceless possessions, electronics, jewelry and money were stolen.

Marasco returned to the home around 12:50 a.m. Wednesday, police said. Richard Cummo, back from vacation, awoke when he heard a noise outside his front door and went outside to check, police said, leading to an altercation between him and Marasco. Cummo was injured and brought to Stony Brook University Medical Center.

Marasco was arrested and charged with second-degree assault: victim 65 or older and fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property.

On Thursday, Whitlock posted to Facebook her father is in the hospital with two swollen-shut eyes, a broken nose, broken facial bones, a concussion, and three broken ribs. She said after her parents heard banging and kicking at their front door, her mother called 911. She told Patch that Marasco got away from Cummo but was caught by police down the road.

Whitlock criticized New York's bail reform laws and said they're the reason she made the Facebook post.

"I know how the New York laws are changing for the worst," she wrote. "My family and I believe [Marasco] needs to get additional convictions, and the maximum sentence since he is a threat to any community where he resides. My father defended his wife and home from that 'man,' and we need justice to be served."