Pair Charged in Day-Long Suffolk County Robbery Spree

Two men have been arrested following a day-long robbery spree, Suffolk Police said.

Michael Burden, 38, and John Giangaspro, 25, committed the following crimes, police said:

• On Fridat at approximately 8:05 p.m. Giangaspro threatened the use of a weapon and robbed the Beer and Smoke Convenience store, located at 25 Sills Road, East Patchogue.
• On Friday at approximately 10:12 p.m. Burden and Giangaspro threatened the use of a weapon and attempted to rob the Swan Deli, located at 15 South Country Road, East Patchogue.
• On Friday at approximately 10:37 p.m. Burden and Giangaspro stole a women’s pocketbook in front of Laundry Kingdom located at 1909 Route 112 Medford.
• On Saturday at approximately 6:15 a.m. Burden threatened the use of a weapon and robbed the CVS located at 305 Main St., Holbrook.
• On Saturday at approximately 3:30 p.m. Burden and Giangaspro robbed Kim’s Costume Jewelry Store, located at 5801 Sunrise Highway Holbrook and then stole a women’s pocketbook.
• On Saturday at approximately 3:55 p.m. Burden and Giangaspro robbed a woman of her pocketbook in the Staples parking lot located at 380 Sunrise Highway, Patchogue.

The son of the victim at the Staples chased Burden through the parking lot and tackled him, police said.

An off-duty New York Police Department detective, Brian DePalo, witnessed the robbery and subsequent chase and assisted the son in apprehending Burden, police said.

Fifth Precinct Patrol officers responded and took Burden into custody. During the chase, Giangaspro fled in a vehicle, police said. He was located a short time later on Hospital Road in East Patchogue by Fifth Squad detectives and taken into custody.

Burden, of Holbrook, is charged with two counts of first degree robbery, first degree attempted robbery and three counts of third degree robbery.

Giangaspro, of Patchogue, is charged with first degree robbery, first degree attempted robbery and three counts of third degree robbery.

Burden and Giangaspro were held at the Fifth Precinct overnight and are scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on Sunday. The investigation is continuing.

SCPD photos: Michael Burden (left) and John Giangaspro