A Montclair man is robbed and assaulted; a NYC man robbed at the Wellmont. From Lt. Scott Buehler:
Armed Robbery
On 10/19/11 at approximately 6:50 PM, police responded to a report of an armed robbery that occurred in the area of Draper Terrace and Orange Road. The victim, a twenty-six year old Montclair male, stated that he was walking on Draper Terrace on that date at approximately 6:45 PM when he was approached by two individuals.
The victim stated that one of the males approached him from behind and was holding what he, the victim, believed to be a semi-automatic handgun. When the victim turned towards the male, the suspect struck the victim in the head with the suspected handgun. The suspect then said, “Run his pockets.” The victim then realized that there were two suspects and stated that the suspects took a Sprint Evo cellular telephone, valued at $300, a wallet, a backpack, and various identification cards. The suspects fled in a newer model four door vehicle, possibly a Volkswagen Jetta. The vehicle was operated by a third unidentified individual, and pulled up quickly after the robbery.
The victim described the suspect who attacked him as a young male, approximately 6’0”, 150-160 lbs., with dreadlocks. He was wearing a gray sweatshirt with the hood up and a gray bandana covering the lower part of his face. There is no further description of any of the suspects at this time.
Anyone with further information is asked to contact Detective Chris Barnes at 973-509-4731.
Arrest
On 10/19/11 at approximately 7:25 PM, police were patrolling Orange Road when they observed a Volkswagen Jetta. Police stopped the vehicle based upon the fact that a similarly-described Jetta was possibly involved in an earlier armed robbery in the area of Orange Road and Draper Terrace. Police arrested one of the occupants, identified as William Barba, after discovering that he had an active warrant issued by Montclair. Bail was set at $3,500. It is not believed that Barba, 20, of Montclair, or any of the occupants were involved in the robbery based upon subsequent investigation.
Vandalism to a Motor Vehicle
On 10/20/11 at approximately 11:45 AM, police received a report of vandalism to a motor vehicle that occurred in a rear lot of a Church Street address. The victim stated that sometime between 10:30 AM on the 19th and 10:30 PM on the 19th, someone had vandalized her Honda Accord. The damage consisted of key marks alongside the entire driver’s side of the vehicle. In addition, all four tires to the vehicle appeared to have been slashed.
Anyone with further information is asked to contact Detective Lynn McCarthy at 973-509-4725.
Motor Vehicle Theft
On 10/20/11 at approximately 2:15 PM, police received a report from a Bloomfield resident concerning a theft of a motor vehicle on Pleasant Avenue. The victim stated that he parked a red Ford E250 van in a driveway to a residence where he was performing work. The vehicle contained over $40,000 in tools and supplies and was last seen on that date at approximately 1:00 PM. The vehicle had been left unlocked with the keys in the vehicle prior to the theft.
On 10/20/11 at approximately 4:20 PM, Montclair Police received notification from the Orange Police Department that the vehicle had been recovered on Oakwood Place in their jurisdiction. The victim responded and stated that the vehicle was missing approximately $8,000 in tools. There are no suspects at this time.
Robbery
On 10/20/11 at approximately 10:25 PM, police received a report of a robbery at the Wellmont Theatre on Seymour Street. The victim, a twenty-seven year old New York, New York resident, stated that he was attending a concert at the theatre. The victim stated that while he was inside the theatre, several people attempted to take his cell phone, described as an Apple iPhone 4, valued at $700. The phone was taken after he was punched in the head and face repeatedly. The victim initially stated that the robbery occurred in the area of a “mosh pit”, but later stated that no “mosh pit” existed.
The victim stated that he approached a group of individuals that he suspected of taking the phone and attempted to reason with them, but was subsequently punched in the face and head by one of the group.
Anyone with further information is asked to contact Detective Shawn DePoe at 973-509-4732.
This is why I do not walk anymore. I park as close as possible to where I am going, exit and walk like I mean business, or like that I am damn mad !
If I am in my car, and they come up to the car I go like stink.
If standing in front of the car with a gun I and I am in my car, I will mow them down, and hopefully not scratch my car !
I carry no wallet, no cell phone, no i-pod….nothing that they want, as as little cash as possible.
The crime around town is really getting out of hand lately.
They sell pepper spray at Fleet Feet.
This is second time in two weeks that someone was robbed at gunpoint while walking, at a reasonable hour, by Draper Terrace/Madison Ave. I live in the area, and don’t feel safe letting my kids outside anymore. I really need to get the hell out of here.
‘Dreadlocks’ or ‘braids’?
I really need to get the hell out of here….You say, and I understand. BUT….. where are we gonna go? I think southern N.J. by the farming areas must be okay as is northern Maine, most all of New Hampshire and Vermont. The REAL crime is the Mothergoose punishment the courts hand out for such crimes. N.J courts are so loose and almost papper the thugs.
I’d put to work, the unemployed in building jails – maybe enough to house 1,000 inmates and use them !! Forget Malls, we got too many, allready. BUILD JAILS and use the damn things !!
Sooner or later someone’s going to go “Bernard Goetz” here in B’ville.
“Are you talking to me?”
Someone from Manhattan comes to the Wellmont and gets mugged? Ugh. Time to move back to the city.
Is it just me or does spending an average of $35,000 per day for police seem like a lot? That is what a post on the patch says. It says this is before benefits. Why don’t we see more cops on the streets for this amount? Where does that money go?