Police Investigating IHOP Break-in Link To Area Burglaries

RONKONKOMA, NY — Suffolk police are investigating whether an early morning burglary at IHOP in Ronkonkoma is related to other recent break-ins in the area.

Police said someone broke a glass door and went inside the building and stole cash sometime between 4:15 and 5:15 a.m. on Jan. 25. No other details were released.

There was a series of five burglaries ranging from Jan. 9 in Holbrook and Jan. 15 in Farmingville, and Dunkin' in Terryville and Speedway in Medford were burglarized within hours on Jan. 14, police said.

It's under investigation if all the burglaries are related to that of Hummus Mediterranean Grill in Holbrook, which was burglarized for the second time since October on Jan. 9, a police spokeswoman said. The restaurant had its window broken by a burglar at about 6:30 a.m. and the burglar "fled when they realized there was an employee in the store," police said.

The restaurant was one of about 12 throughout Holbrook, Bohemia, Smithtown, Lake Grove, and East Setauket that were burglarized between Sept. 23 and Oct. 7. At about 4:30 a.m. on Oct. 6, a concrete block was thrown through a glass door and money was taken.

Detectives are asking anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.