Long Island Woman Recalls Horror Of Being Robbed In Her Garage

WOODMERE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Police continued to search Thursday for a suspect who followed a 74-year-old woman into her garage, and robbed her of an expensive diamond engagement ring, in Woodmere, Long Island.

Around 2:15 p.m. Tuesday, the woman was driving into the garage of her home on Longacre Avenue in Woodmere, when she was approached by a man who put his hand over her face and demanded her jewelry, police said.

CBS 2's John Slattery spoke to the woman, named Linda, at her home Thursday. She said the robbery in her garage has left her scared to come home.

"Well, I'm now paranoid," Linda said. "I look up and down the block sideways when I come down the block to go into the house."

She described the horror of the incident in the middle of the day Tuesday.

"When I'm opening my door to get out of the car, and in the side-view mirror, I saw someone come running in, crouching," she said.

Linda did not even get out of the car when she was grabbed.

"I opened the car door. His hand comes across my face. It was gloved," she said. "And he said, I think he said: 'Don't scream. Give me the ring.' I said, 'What are you talking about?' He said, 'Give me the ring.'"

He took a $40,000 diamond ring and inexpensive bracelets.

The thief got into a car and drove off, the victim backed up her car and tried to follow him."

But she said the gray sedan she had seen speed off and was soon gone. The victim believes she had been followed after running errands.

"I was in several places," Linda said, adding that she was "sure" someone saw the ring and followed her.

Linda said police got video of a gray sedan following her car. She gave them a description of a white or Hispanic man wearing a tightly-fitting striped shirt.

"I think he had dark, curly hair. He didn't have any accent whatsoever," she said.

Anyone with information about the incident was asked to call Nassau County Crime Stoppers at (800) 244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.

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