LINDEN — On Sept. 24, at 8:32 p.m. police responded to a report of a robbery on the 800 block of Roselle St. Two victims, a 35 year old man from Linden, and a 34 year old man from Brooklyn allegedly told officers that they were walking down the street when they were approached by two males, one of whom produced a handgun and demanded their belongings. The victims handed over their wallets, credit and debit cards, and an Apple IPhone 4S. The suspects also demanded the PIN number for the debit card. They then fled on foot.
While speaking to the victims, one of the officers utilized the “Find My Phone App” on his phone with the victim’s account information. The app revealed that the phone was stationary at Routes 1&9 and Summer St. in Elizabeth.
This information was relayed to other officers over the police radio. When another officer arrived at that location, just over the Linden/Elizabeth border, the officer observed two men using an ATM machine at the Delta Gas Station.
As he pulled into the parking lot, the two men allegedly looked at him and ran in different directions. The officer pursued one suspect on foot through several backyards before he found him hiding in some bushes. The suspect had some of the victim’s property in his possession. He was identified as a 15 year old from Elizabeth.
The second suspect was not located. Back at the Delta station, the officers found a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder which had been reported stolen. They also recovered a loaded Ruger .357 caliber handgun inside the vehicle along with other property belonging to the victims.
The juvenile was charged with robbery and weapons offenses and taken to the Union County Juvenile Detention Center in Linden. Neither of the victims were injured. The investigation is continuing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Linden detectives Phil Marcus at 908-474-8520 or Ken Mikolajczyk at 908-474-8542.