71-Year-Old Man Punched and Robbed on Woodland

A 71-year-old Maplewood was man attacked and robbed while walking home on Woodland Road late last night.

The man was walking on Woodland at approximately 11:20 p.m. Monday night, Sept. 12, when he was approached from behind by two men who allegedly knocked him to the ground. No words were exchanged by the assailants as they struck the victim in the head and face with punches. 

The victim began to yell for help and a Woodland Road resident scared off the suspects, who fled in a black SUV-type vehicle. The men, described as two black men, were able to take a shopping bag from the victim. The bags contained some merchandise and personal items. 

The victim sustained a large cut just above his eyebrow and bruising to his face. He was transported to The Veteran’s Hospital in East Orange by the Maplewood First Aid Squad.

A burglary, attempted burglary and malicious damage to auto were also reported in Maplewood this week. These reported crimes are detailed below. The blotter comes to us courtesy of Maplewood Police Capt. Paul Conlon:

Sept. 6: Burglary- A Sommer Avenue resident said between 8:45 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. someone entered into her home and removed a Sony Playstation and game cartridges, two Dell laptop computers and some jewelry from the bedrooms. Detectives were unable to determine a point of entry for the burglary because doors and windows were unlocked and the home was vacant for the day.

Sept. 9: Malicious Damage to Auto- At 6:20 a.m. a Plymouth Avenue resident came out of his house to retrieve the morning paper and he saw a black teenager attempting to break into his neighbors 2008 Infiniti G35 parked in the driveway. The teen fled to a waiting brown Nissan Altima driven by a second suspect and the vehicle drove away towards Maplecrest Park. Damage was sustained to the driver’s side door lock of the Infiniti.

Sept. 9: Attempt Burglary- A woman returned to her Beach Place home at approximately 3:30 p.m. and found the lock to her back door broken and pry marks on the door frame. Officers determined the home was not entered and believe the suspect may have been scared off by a large dog inside the house.