NEWARK, NJ – The Newark Department of Public Safety is calling for public assistance to identify a male suspect involved in multiple crimes within the East Ward. According to Public Safety Director Fritz G. Fragé, the individual is linked to two armed business robberies and an auto burglary that occurred on Wednesday, February 21.
The first incident took place at around 1:55 p.m. in a store located on the 100 block of Elm Street, where the suspect, revealing a handgun in his waistband, robbed $50.00 from a customer. Shortly before, at 1:47 p.m., the same suspect had entered another store on the 200 block of Adams Street, ordered food, ate, and then, after displaying a handgun, jumped over the counter to steal $100.00 from the cash register.
Additionally, the suspect is accused of stealing a wallet from a vehicle at the intersection of William and Halsey streets on the same day. The suspect is described as a Black male, dressed in a black jacket, a black hooded sweatshirt with white lettering, black pants, black boots, and a black ski mask, topped with a white and black frilly knitted hat. He is known to frequent the areas around Broad Street, Market Street, West Kinney Street, and Nevada Street.
Director Fragé encourages anyone with information regarding the suspect to contact the Newark Police Division’s Crime Stopper tip line at 1-877-NWK-TIPS (1-877-695-8477).