Long Island Kay Jewelers Robbed In $18,000 Smash-And-Grab: PD

Hicksville NY

10 March, 2021

11:29 AM

Description

HICKSVILLE, NY — It was a kiss-off that began with Kay. A bat-wielding homeless man smashed glass display cases and stole $18,000 in jewelry from a Kay Jewelers on Long Island, Nassau County police said. Detectives said 22-year-old John Hernandez, who has no known address, took out a "small bat and began smashing glass display cases" inside the Broadway Mall-Hicksville location of the popular chain jeweler — known for its "Every kiss begins with Kay" ad campaign — just before 2 p.m. Monday. Hernandez stole "numerous pieces of jewelry" and put them into his backpack before running away, detectives said. Police were alerted to Hernandez's description, and he was later found behind a Maple Place home with the jewelry inside his backpack, detectives said. No one was injured in the robbery, police said. He has been charged with first- and third-degree robbery, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, third-degree grand larceny, and false personation, as well as two counts of second-degree criminal mischief. He was arraigned Tuesday in Mineola. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in a state prison.