Crimes Nearby: Police Seek Attempted Robbers

Suffolk County police are looking for three men who attempted unsuccessfully to rob a Gulf Gas Station in Islandia on Sept. 10. Suffolk County police say Xaheer Barbar, manager of Gulf Gas Station at 1395 Veterans Memorial Highway in Islandia, was preparing to take the station's receipts to the bank at approximately 1:10 p.m. Monday. As Barbar was preparing to head out, he was confronted by two men, and he locked the cash in his car. A struggle ensued as the two ment attempted to get the station manager to open his vehicle, but he refused. The two suspects, who are described as being light skinned, fled without any money.  The two men fled in a beige Ford Taurus, manufactured between 2004 and 2008, that was last seen heading westbound on Veterans Memorial Highway that might have been driven by a third man, who police describe as a white male. Police said one of the three men may have been armed with a handgun. Police are asking anyone who witnessed the incident or may have seen the suspects to call the Fourth Squad at 631-854-8452 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.

Michael Halama, 40, of Bellmore, was arrested in Smithtown on Sept. 7 on third degree grand larceny charges. Reports state Halama tampered with an LIPA electric meter on Webster Avenue, stealing electricity valued at more than $3,000 from June 11, 2008 to April 6, 2010.

Michael Argeropoulos, 18, of Port Jefferson Station, was arrested Sept. 5 at his home in Port Jefferson Station and charged with assault and criminal mischief. Argeropoulos allegedly hit a man in the head with a baseball bat on Gaton Lane in Coram. He is also accused of breaking the rear window of 2000 Mercedes Benz with a bat. Police are not sure if it was the same bat used in both instances.

Keith Twining, 47, of Port Jefferson Station, was arrested at 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 6 in Wyandanch and charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal possession of a weapon. Twining was allegedly in possession of a large knife.

Elfair McKnight III, 39, of Bellport, was arrested Sept. 7 at Main Street and Linden Place in Port Jefferson Station at 8:35 p.m. and charged with obstructing traffic. Police say that McKnight was stumbling on the street with an open container of alcohol and marijuana. He allegedly blocked the doorway to a bodega grocery store.