Incident location, Long Island
What Happened
Three suspects burglarized a home on Melby Lane in East Hills early Monday morning, making off with approximately $1,000 in cash after a 38-year-old resident came face-to-face with two of them inside her kitchen, according to News 12 Long Island. Nassau County police are now searching for all three individuals, none of whom have been identified or apprehended.
The incident unfolded at approximately 3:49 a.m. on Monday, June 22, 2026, when the woman — who was inside her home at the time — received an alarm alert from a garage door leading into the main level of the house. She went downstairs to investigate and discovered two unknown men standing inside her kitchen. In what authorities described as a quick-thinking response, the woman screamed for help. That single act was enough to send the intruders running.
According to News 12 Long Island, the suspects fled through a rear kitchen door and left the area in an unknown direction. Detectives note the men may have been traveling in an unknown vehicle, though no specific make, model, or plate information has been released. The subsequent investigation revealed that the two men seen inside the kitchen were not the full picture — a third suspect had been part of the operation as well.
Detectives say the trio had first approached the property on foot, walking up the home’s driveway, where they rummaged through a vehicle parked outside before making entry into the residence itself. It remains unclear whether any items were taken from the parked vehicle, but investigators confirmed that approximately $1,000 in cash was stolen from within the home. No injuries were reported as a result of the confrontation between the homeowner and the suspects.
The Nassau County Police Department is actively investigating the incident. Neighbor Alexander Ohayon, an East Hills resident, spoke to News 12 Long Island about the unnerving nature of the break-in. “It’s a scary thing to happen. It should not happen to anyone in any neighborhood, especially around here. No one deserved to have their stuff broken into,” Ohayon said. “It’s nearby. You’re concerned for your family’s belongings and other people’s belongings.” His comments reflect the anxiety that rippled through the tight-knit community following the pre-dawn burglary.
The suspects remain at large as of the time of this report, and Nassau County police have not released descriptions of any of the three individuals. Anyone with information about the Melby Lane burglary is encouraged to contact Nassau County police.
Location & Road Context
East Hills is a village in Nassau County situated within the Town of North Hempstead, bordered by communities including Roslyn Heights, Greenvale, and Albertson. Melby Lane is a residential street within the village, characteristic of the area’s suburban, single-family home landscape. East Hills is generally considered a low-crime community, making a pre-dawn home intrusion of this nature particularly alarming to local residents. For more on Nassau County road and community conditions, see our coverage of Nassau County towns and traffic.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
As of the report filed on June 22, 2026, at 5:10 p.m. by News 12 journalist Jeremy Skiba, no arrests have been made and no suspects have been publicly identified in connection with the Melby Lane burglary. Nassau County detectives are leading the investigation and have established that three individuals were involved in the incident, though only two were observed inside the residence. The direction of travel and vehicle used by the suspects following their flight from the scene remain unknown, leaving investigators with limited physical leads. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Nassau County Police Department.
Broader Impact
Home burglaries that begin with suspects rummaging through unlocked or accessible vehicles in driveways — sometimes called “car hopping” — are a documented pattern in suburban Nassau County communities. In incidents like this one, an unsecured garage door or a vehicle left in an open driveway can serve as an initial point of access or reconnaissance before suspects escalate to entering a residence. Nassau County police have historically encouraged residents to lock vehicles overnight and ensure home alarm systems are active, particularly for doors connecting garages to main living areas. For guidance on your rights and options following a property crime, see our Know Your Rights resource page.