Suffolk County police arrested a man after he allegedly stole money from an elderly man in the parking lot of a casino in Islandia.
On September 7, a 71-year-old man was walking to his car after winning a large cash payout at Jake’s 58 Casino Hotel, located at 3635 Express Drive North, when Aaron Hayes allegedly approached him, reached into his pocket, stole a small amount of cash, and then ran away at 3:40 p.m.
Hayes realized he had stolen only a small amount, so he allegedly returned to the man, knocked him to the ground, and started going through his coat pockets looking for more money. When two good Samaritans intervened, Hayes gave up looking for the cash, ran to his vehicle and fled the scene.
Following an investigation by Fourth Squad Detectives, Hayes, 24, of 2 Parnell Lane, Port Jefferson Station, was arrested outside his residence on September 7 at 11 p.m. He has been charged with Robbery in the Third Degree. He was held overnight at the Sixth Precinct and is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on September 8.
Detectives are asking anyone with information on the incident to contact the Fourth Squad at 631-854-8452.