Police foil holdup at Suffolk Dunkin' Donuts; link suspects to string of other robberies

BLUE POINT, N.Y. (WABC) -- Authorities in Suffolk County foiled a robbery attempt at a Dunkin' Donuts on Montauk Highway Wednesday night, and they have linked the suspects to a string of other robberies.

Investigators followed the suspects, Andrew Berger and Matthew McGurk, to the donut shop, and a detective watched as Berger allegedly put on a ski mask, pulled out a gun and walked inside.

"When the police entered the establishment, the perpetrator reeled, pointed a pistol at a detective, and the detective in turn fired a total of six shots," Suffolk County police Chief Edward Burke said.

Berger was taken into custody at the scene, while McGurk was found waiting nearby in a parked vehicle a short time later.

There is surveillance video of the suspects recent alleged hold up at a gas station, and police had been on their tail for weeks now.

"In fact, last night we had nearly 50 police officers and detectives assigned to various surveillance operations throughout the county," Burke said.

Police believe Berger and McGurk are responsible for robbing at least 12 gas stations and doughnuts shops in Suffolk County since December 22.

"Both of them are heroin addicts," Chief William Madigan said. "We found a needle on one of the defendants last night subsequent to his arrest."

The owner of the Dunkin Donuts, Gobind Bathiga, showed the holes still left behind in the counter and the wall.

He said his store was also robbed on Christmas Eve.

"The cops, they believe this is the same people," he said. "Thank God (this is over). We are very happy."

"These individuals face a lot of jail time, and they will get a lot of jail time," Suffolk County DA Thomas Spota said.