2 Men Wanted in Syosset Restaurant Heist

Police are searching for two men in a brown or beige vehicle who tied up employees of and attempted to break open the restaurant safe Sunday morning, Nassau Police said.

According to Second Squad detectives, a 65-year-old employee had opened Cafe Testarossa for business and was confronted by two men, one with a handgun and one holding a knife and crowbar, who demanded he open the safe. The safe is electronic, however, and employees are not given the access codes, so the suspects tied him up and took his cell phone.

A 48-year-old male employee and later, a 56-year-old female employee, arrived for work soon after and were immediately told to open the safe, but facing the same dilemma, were also bound and had their cell phones removed.

Finally, the suspects attempted to force open the safe themselves. The 48-year-old employee broke free from his restraints and ran to a nearby business to call the police.

After unsuccessful attempts to open the safe, the suspects fled in a dark brown or beige vehicle, taking the three victims' cell phones.

Police K-9 units were deployed in the search for the bandit and there were reports that a police helicopter was also involved in the manhunt.

There are no reports of injuries.

The investigation is ongoing; no further details or suspect descriptions are available.

Local business owners are suspicious of the time of the robbery, saying they expect break ins at 3 a.m. not 9 a.m. Cafe Testarossa closed for the remainder of the business day and the usually bustling parking lot was empty.

This robbery has not been connected to the or the

Patch will continue to follow this story as it develops.

Detectives are asking anyone with information regarding this crime to call Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All calls are anonymous.