Two Teens Robbed on Boyden Parkway

The robbery followed scuffle with group of teens.

According to Police reports, two 16-year-olds were attacked by a group of male teens near Maplecrest Park. Police say two teens, a male and a female, were approached by about five or six black males as they were walking on Boyden Parkway on Sunday, Oct. 4 shortly after midnight. Reportedly, an altercation began, and a member of the group struck the male in the face. Another member of the group then tried to yank the female’s purse from her shoulder, but police say she was able to hold on to it. The 16-year-old female yelled for help, and a nearby resident told the group she would call the police. The group fled with the girls cell phone and were last seen running towards Boyden Ave. One of the suspect is described as a black male, 17 years…

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Postal Officials Preparing Sketch of Assault Suspect

But video from surveillance cameras reportedly did not capture attack.

Postal authorities say they have received enough tips from nearby residents to draw a sketch of the suspect in Friday's assault at the U.S. Post Office facility on Springfield Avenue. A postal carrier was attacked and struck with a gun and a bag containing a small amount of cash stolen in the attack, which occurred around the time the post office closed at 2 p.m. Friday, Sep. 4. Postal Inspector Josh Shandler said he hoped to release the sketch later today or Friday once it is completed. But he said that video from surveillance cameras in the rear of the post office apparently was of little help. Instead, interviews with neighbors who lived near the post office provided descriptions of a suspect who had been seen lurking in the area prior …

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Armed Robbery Results in Arrest

Man robbed at gunpoint.

According to a police report, on Tuesday, Sept. 1, a man walking on South Crescent Road was robbed by an armed assailant. The victim was reportedly listening to his iPhone when he felt someone put an object on his back. Police say the man realized he was being robbed and handed his iPhone and his credit cards to the thief, who fled towards Valley Street. Shortly after the robbery occurred, police found a parked car in the lot of the Quick Chek on Stuyvesant Avenue that held the stolen iPhone and a loaded .40 caliber firearm. After an investigation, police charged 22-year-old Maplewood resident Michael Rodney with robbery while armed, possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm for unlawful purposes.

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Details Emerge in Post Office Robbery

The thief took cash, assaulted mail carrier with gun.

Maplewood police today provided some more details about the assault and robbery of a US Post office mail carrier in the parking lot of the Post Office on Springfield Ave. in Maplewood on Friday, Sept. 5. According to a police report, the suspect emerged from bushes behind the Springfield Ave. post office when the mail carrier entered the postal truck. The suspect, a black male, reportedly said “Where’s the money while approaching the victim with a handgun. Maplewood police say the suspect struck the victim with the butt of the gun before fleeing with the US Postal service pouch, which reportedly contained $122 in cash. The incident is under investigation by the US Postal Inspectors.

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More Bicycles Stolen

In one report, some kids took other kids' bikes by force.

Police have reported that more bicycles have been stolen in the Township, including an incident where juvenile suspects took bikes from other juveniles with force. The newest reported thefts follow a number of bicycle theft reports in Maplewood this summer. On Tuesday, Aug. 18, two youths reportedly had their bicycles stolen by force. According to a police report, a 12-year-old was struck in the head, and knocked down to the ground near Oakland Road. Police found two youths who matched the descriptions of the suspects. The juveniles, who were not named because of their age, were remanded to the Essex County Youth House. The stolen bicycles were returned to the victims. The following day, a Maplewood resident told police that his Mongoose …

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Police Report Armed Robbery Over Weekend

An East Orange man says he was robbed by two teens near the Irvington border.

Police responded to a report of an armed robbery near the Irvington border on Saturday night. No arrests were made in the incident. At approximately 10:35 p.m. Saturday, police responded on a report of an armed robbery to the area of Essex Avenue and South 4th St. A 37-year-old East Orange man told police he had been approached by two black male teenagers. One of the teens reportedly had a silver handgun. They demanded money from the victim, who was not injured in the incident, and fled. The two suspects wore either bandanas or rags over their faces. One is described as thin, 5’7” and between 15 and 17 years old. He was reportedly wearing a short-sleeved white t-shirt and jeans. The second suspect was also described as thin and between 15 …

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Police: Thefts From Cars Continue

Cars are still targets for thieves.

Two unlocked cars were reportedly broken into in Maplewood in August, police say. The robberies come after similar reports from July. On Friday, Aug. 7, a Hudson Avenue resident told police that someone entered his unlocked vehicle. The car’s radio was missing and parts of the interior were reportedly damaged. On Sunday, Aug. 9, the owner of a car parked on Lindsley Avenue told police that the vehicle had been broken into sometime during the previous evening. The car was parked and unlocked. A black iPod and $45 in cash were reportedly taken.

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Police: Robbery In Memorial Park

Thieves reportedly made off with an iPod and a small amount of cash.

Police say a robbery was reported in Memorial Park on Sunday, Aug. 2. According to a police report, sometime around 9:40 p.m., two black male teenagers approached a man, asking if he had change for a $20 bill. Following the inquiry, one of the teens reportedly put the victim in a headlock. The second teen stole $25, an iPod, a cell phone and a house key from the victim. Both suspects are described as between the age of 15 and 17, and black. One was described as approximately 5’7” and 145 lbs, and wearing a white hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans. The second suspect is believed to be about the same age, but with a chubby build. He reportedly wore a white t-shirt, blue jeans and covered his face with a red bandana.

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Police: More information on Last Week's Liquor Store Robbery

Police release description of suspects, details of incident.

More details have emerged on the liquor store robbery from last week. As we reported, two men robbed a Boyden Avenue liquor store at approximately 8:15 p.m. on Thursday, June 18. After entering the store, one of the men pointed a handgun at two store employees while the other rifled through the cash register. The two fled the store on foot, heading towards Irvington on Boyden Avenue. Reportedly, the two thieves are both black males approximately 5’6” in height. One was described as thin, in his late teens and wearing dark pants, a black hooded sweatshirt with dark letters and a baseball cap with an unidentified logo on it. The second suspect—who was armed during the robbery—reportedly was in his early 20s and had a larger build. He …

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Strong Arm Robbery Reported on Springfield Ave.

A victim was reportedly robbed of a cellphone near the Irvington border.

Shortly before 4 p.m., Maplewood emergency communications reported that police responded to a report of a strong arm robbery on Springfield Avenue near the intersection of Chancellor Avenue. Reportedly, the perpetrator  fled with a cell phone. Police were not able to provide any information on the incident. We contacted a number of nearby businesses but were not able to find any witnesses. We will report more information as it becomes available.