The Alternative Press

PATERSON, NJ - Police are investigating four robberies that happened Tuesday during an eight-hour span, including one a block away from City Hall, another around the corner from the Passaic County courthouse and a third in the Hillcrest neighborhood.

The first incident happened at 11 am near the corner of Union and Linwood avenues, according to Sgt. Ivette Otero. A teenager was walking down the street when five males approached him, police said. The suspects demanded his cell phone and after he refused hey assaulted him and took it, police said.

The second was at 1 pm at a business on the 100 block of Straight Street, police said. A Glen Rock woman in her 60s was inside the building when the suspect came inside, pulled a knife, and took her jewelry and cell phone, Otero said. The suspect was described as a black man in his 20s who was six-feet tall and about 160 pounds with a dark complexion.

The third and fourth robberies both happened at about 6:30 pm, police said. One was near the corner of Hamilton and Smith streets. A woman in her 20s was walking in the area when the suspect came up from behind her, punched her in the face and took her iPhone, Otero said. The suspect was described as a black man in his 20s, five-feet, nine-inches tall, 160 pounds with a medium complexion.

The other robbery happened at the corner of Main and Market streets, police said. A woman in her 20s told police the suspect asked her for help, then pushed her and took her iPhone. The suspect was described as a black man in his 20s, five-feet tall, 150 pounds with a light complexion.