Police: Pair Arrested in Nail Salon Armed Robberies

A man and woman from Islip Terrace were arrested Wednesday and charged in connection with five recent armed robberies of nail salons in the area, police said. 

The robberies occurred over the last month at salons in Islip, Islip Terrace, East Islip and Copiague.

Salvatore Scimeca is charged with four counts of first degree robbery, as well as counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument and first degree attempted robbery. He is also expected to be charged in Nassau for an additional five robberies of nail salons that occurred in Valley Stream, Franklin Square, Wantagh and New Hyde Park between Dec. 23 and Dec. 30, police said. 

Elise Sandberg, 34, is charged with four counts of first degree robbery and one county of and first degree attempted robbery. She is also expected to be charged with additional robberies in Nassau. 

Police said Scimeca entered Nail Tek salon at 190 Islip Ave. in Islip on Dec. 13 at 6:15 p.m., armed with a handgun, and demanded cash from the employees. Less than an hour later, the he entered Diamond Star Nail Inc. at 572 Main St. in Islip, displayed a gun and stole cash from that store, police said. 

Scimeca armed with a handgun, also attempted to rob Charming Orchid Nail and Spa, located at 64H Carleton Ave. in Islip Terrace, on Dec. 15 but did not get any proceeds. Approximately 15 minutes later, he robbed Queen Mary Nails, located at 126 East Main Street in East Islip, police said. 

On New Year's Eve, at 6:50 p.m., Scimeca robbed Nail Plaza at 856 Montauk Highway in Copiague, police said. 

Scimeca and Sandberg are scheduled to be arraigned Thursday morning at First District Court in Central Islip.