Bohemia duo charged in Commack bank robbery, string of Long Island stickups

A bank. Two Dollar Trees. A Starbucks. And a gas station where the plan fell apart.

Suffolk Police said all four robberies — and one attempted sticup — are the work of the same Bohemia pair, arrested this week after a three-week robbery spree that stretched from Commack to Medford.

Randy Hill, 48, and Donna Hovanec, 45, were arrested Thursday and charged with third-degree robbery for the Aug. 14 holdup at the Chase Bank on Vanderbilt Motor Parkway in Commack.

Detectives also hit them each with three counts each of first-degree robbery for the following business stickups:

• Dollar Tree, 167 North Service Road, East Patchogue — Aug. 16
• Dollar Tree, 2044 Route 112, Medford — Aug. 22
• Starbucks, 4577 Sunrise Highway, Bohemia — Sept. 2

The pair are also facing attempted first-degree robbery charges tied to an Aug. 25 incident at Sunoco Dix Hills Tire and Auto on Deer Park Road, where police said the robbery attempt did not succeed.

The spree started at the bank. Police said Hill walked into the Commack Chase about 4:45 p.m. on Aug. 14, passed a teller a note demanding cash, and walked out with the money once the teller complied.

Hill was held overnight by Suffolk Police and is due to be arraigned Friday at Suffolk First District Court in Central Islip. Hovanec will be arraigned at a later date.

_{Top: Starbucks in Bohemia (Google Maps Street View) and inset photo from SCPD.}