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Terry McDonagh, age 29, of Keansburg, New Jersey, was apprehended on Monday, Feb. 5 by Nassau County detective after approaching the man in Greenvale.
According to detectives, an unknown man knocked on a Maple Street home and notified the owner that his roof was leaking. The man asked the 82-year-old victim, to come outside to see the problem.
The victim went outside and saw a second man place a ladder against the house and go to the roof. While on the roof, the man showed the victim a piece of wood.
A third man went inside the home with the victim and inspected a hole in the ceiling sheetrock which he claimed was caused due to the damaged roof and requested a certified check for $20,000 to repair the roof, police said.
The victim requested the men return later in the day and then called the police.
Detectives were investigating the incident and were notified of a group of men fitting the same description, knocking on the door of a Marks Place residence in Roslyn Heights claiming to work for Roslyn Water District.
Police said the men claimed the victim had a damaged roof and they could repair it. The female victim refused to open the door and told the men to leave. The men left the scene in a gold-colored SUV.
Detectives found a 2006 gold Toyota Highlander with a ladder, traveling southbound on Mineola Avenue and attempted to stop it before they fled and then crashed in the area of High Street, police said.
Four men were seen running from the vehicle, and McDonagh was apprehended by police. The other three got away.
He was charged with two counts of criminal mischief and two counts of attempted grand larceny and held for arraignment.
Detectives request anyone with information to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-Tips or call 911.
If you were the victim of a similar incident call police.
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