The Alternative Press

WEST ORANGE, NJ - Several robberies and attempted robberies took place over the past 6 days in West Orange, with the following information obtained from the West Orange Police Department. 

Though not reported until September 25, on September 22 an adult male was approached from behind at the intersection of Tremont Avenue and Freeman Avenue at around 12:05 pm by a suspect described as a light skinned African American male with light brown eyes, a mask over his mouth, and a handgun, saying "give me all your money."  The suspect fled on foot heading east into Orange.  No injury was reported.

On September 24, a 60 year old John Street resident pulled into his driveway around 9:24 and was approached by a silver/grey BMW.  Two African American males, both dressed in black, one with a mask and a large firearm, possibly a shotgun; and a second African American male with a handgun, exited the vehicle. Both were described as in their twenties.  The first suspect demanded that the resident 'give me everything you got' and hit the victim on the forehead with the butt of his weapon.  The victim sustained minor injuries and turned over his wallet, which contained cash and credit cards.  The assailants took off, heading north on Whittlesey Avenue.

Also on September 24, three reports from 125 Northfield Avenue, an apartment complex, were reported.  One was an robbert, where the contents of two jewelry boxes were disturbed, although the resident did not report anything stolen; one attempted burglary; and a female reporting that she scared off an African American male, described as being in his early twenties with a blue sports hat, blue sports jersey and jeans shorts attempting to enter her apartment through her bedroom window via the fire escape.  He took off west on Northfield Avenue into the woods.  There is a strong possibility that these incidences are related.

On the same day, a 40 year old female was arrested for shoplifting a bottle of Ciroq vodka from Total Wine in the Essex Green Shopping Plaza; and two vehicles, one located at 19 Winding Way and the other at 47 Sunnyside Avenue, were both burglarized.  The owners reported that they had left their vehicles unlocked.

A 1998 Dodge Caravan was stolen from 113 Watchung Avenue.  

Lastly,  on Tuesday, September 25, a male and female walking on Valley Road near the intersection of Valley Road and Cary Street around 11:57 pm, were approached from behind by two armed African American males, one described as 5'9 and 270 pounds, wearing dark clothes and carrying a chrome colored handgun, and the other, a 6'0 male about 230 pounds, with a wide nose, black hat, black hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans, carrying a  black handgun.  The first suspect demanded that the male victim turn over his wallet as he pointed a gun to his head.  The victim complied.  The second suspect demanded the female's purse, saying 'turn away, don't turn around, don't go into the bar, everything is going to be OK.'

The suspects took off with approximately $ 1,700 in cash and property.

The West Orange Police Department and Detective Bureau are investigating the crimes.  No arrests have been made as yet.