A 49-year-old Hempstead man has been arrested for allegedly burglarizing homes during the post-Sandy blackout in Garden City on Long Island, police said.
Artie Jackson entered three homes while people were inside, according to police. In one case, he choked a woman; in another, he tied up people with neckties.
On Third Street Thursday night, three victims claimed Jackson locked them in a basement room, blocking the door with a foosball table after firing two warning shots from a gun into a ceiling.
Jackson is also accused of stealing cars from some of the homes he targeted.
Detective Sgt. John Giambrone said Jackson has "an extensive arrest history" involving burglaries and auto thefts going back to the 1980s, but he had never been violent before the latest spate of crimes.
The arrest came after investigators in Garden City and Hempstead formed a join task force and asked Long Island Power Authority to step up efforts to restore power to the crime-stricken area. Police spotted Jackson driving in the area this week.
Authorities said he may also be responsible for 12 other burglaries. It wasn't immediately clear if Jackson had an attorney.
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Power has since been restored in Garden City.
