FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, NJ (Somerset County) – Authorities are searching for suspects that were involved in a three-day armed robbery spree in Franklin Township, according to Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald.
The spree began on Saturday, August 6, at around 5:14 a.m., when police responded to a hotel located on Cottontail Lane for a panic alarm, McDonald said.
Upon responding, officers located a male victim who stated that while working at the hotel a black male wearing a hooded sweatshirt and a white facial covering came towards him brandishing a black handgun and demanding that he lay on the floor, McDonald said.
The suspect demanded money from the cash register and an undisclosed amount of cash was taken from the register as well as the victim’s cellular telephone, McDonald said.
Then on Tuesday, August 9, at around 12:23 a.m., police responded to an armed robbery at a convenience store in the area of Hamilton Street, McDonald said.
Upon responding, officers spoke to the victim who stated that a black male in his late teens or early 20’s entered the store and brandished a handgun demanding money. The victim was able to distract the male and knock down the cash drawer preventing him from grabbing any money, McDonald said.
The suspect left the store without obtaining any money or items from the store, McDonald siad.
Then on Wednesday, August 10, at around 12:48 a.m., police responded to a gas station in the area of Franklin Blvd. for a reported an armed robbery, McDonald said.
Upon responding, officers located a male victim who stated that two individuals described as being black males in their late teens entered the store. The first suspect described as approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall, thin build wearing a hoodie and a white mask brandished a black handgun and pointed it at the victim, McDonald said.
The victim was ordered to open the cash drawer while the second suspect described as approximately 5 feet 5 inches tall with a heavier build wearing all black and a face mask reached into the drawer and removed an undisclosed amount of cash, McDonald said.
Both suspects then fled the area, McDonald said.
Detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the Franklin Township Police Department are investigating all three armed robberies to determine if the cases are related.
Anyone with information relating to the armed robberies to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100 or the Franklin Township Police Department at 732-873-5533 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.
