Armed bandits target man's jug of loose change

[November 11, 2008]  EAST PATCHOGUE, N.Y. (AP) -- Police say three armed thieves stormed into a Long Island home to steal a water jug full of loose change. Suffolk County police said the masked suspects descended on the East Patchogue home around 2 a.m. Saturday.

Outside they came across the 51-year-old owner, who had gone out to buy milk for breakfast. Police said the burglars roughed him up before breaking in.

Detective Sgt. Daniel Molloy said the bandits then went straight for an upstairs bedroom where the coins were kept in a big water bottle. He says they broke down the door, grabbed the heavy jug and fled.

Six people were in the home at the time.

Molloy said the family wasn't sure how much money was in the jar but had been saving the coins for some time.

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Information from: Newsday, http://www.newsday.com/

[Associated Press]

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