Suffolk County police arrested a Babylon man Thursday in connection with three armed robberies of local tanning salons that occurred over the course of one week, police said.
Robert Gioia Jr. was placed under arrest at the First Precinct Thursday night following an investigation into the tanning salon robberies, police said. He was charged with three counts of first-degree robbery.
The first incident occurred on May 21 at 9:30 p.m. at Rockstar Tans salon on N. Wellwood Avenue in Lindenhurst, police said. Gioia allegedly entered the tanning salon armed with a black handgun, pointed at the victim behind the register and demanded money, police said. He fled after receiving cash, police said.
The 29-year-old allegedly hit two other tanning salons—European Image Tanning Center in West Babylon and Perfect Color Tanning Salon in Lindenhurst—one week later, police said, allegedly pulling off similar robberies.
Gioia was arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on Saturday.
