One More! The Number of Armed Robberies Just Keeps Climbing

The number just keeps going up. Now at least five armed robbery incidents have occurred in Montclair within the last week—four of which happened at various businesses, Montclair Police said.

"I think this all is a little worrying," said resident Emily Rotman. "A lot seems to be happening at once."

Last night, at about 8:30 p.m., an armed robbery occured at the Grove Street Convenience Store.

Upon arrival at the scene, police spoke to an employee, who said that a man had walked into the front door of the store and displayed what appeared to be a handgun wrapped in an orange and black scarf. The suspect approached one of the two employees and said, “Give me the money.” He then led the employee behind the store’s counter, where another employee was counting money, and repeated, “Give me the money.”

The employee handed over $180 from the register and another $660 that was being counted on the counter. The suspect said nothing else and ran out the front door. The suspect was last seen running east on Oxford Street.

The suspect is described as a heavyset black man last seen wearing blue jacket with a black mask covering his face and a black, wool-style watch cap on his head. He was also wearing what was described as a black and white Keffiyeh-style scarf.

Anyone with further information is asked to contact Detective Joseph Anderson at 973-509-4706. 

The incident comes on the heels of a string of other armed robberies this past week.

Township Councilor Cary Africk said that, since overall crime numbers are small, it often appears that "we have a crime wave."

"But what with the looming budget crisis in town, I expect that some will use this as justification to ask for even more money for police and fire, rather than less," he said. "In any case I look to police management for their analysis and recommendations."

In other news on the latest police blotter from Friday, Feb. 4:

Arrest

Police arrested Isiah Boatwright on Feb. 3 at about 3:30 p.m. after he was identified as the person standing on a front porch with a knife, trying to get into a home near Elmwood Avenue and Miller Street. At first, Boatwright provided an alias to officers who initially arrived on scene, but was recognized by other officers who responded.

Boatwright, 21, of Montclair, was arrested after police confirmed that he had a warrant out of Montclair, with bail set at $2,500. He was also charged with obstruction of the administration of law by providing false identifiers. Bail for this charge was set at $1,000.

Arrest

On Feb. 3 just before 8 p.m., police were sent to Romany Liquor Shop on Glenridge Avenue on a report of an altercation between an employee and a customer. Police spoke to the employee who said that a man he identified as Patrick Beckett walked into the store and intended to make a purchase when he did not have the full amount of money needed to buy the item. Beckett and the employee began yelling at each other before Beckett shoved him against a wall and stated, “I’ll see you after closing.” Beckett then left the store.

 Police searched the area and located Beckett in the area of Bloomfield Avenue and North Willow Street. Beckett, 42, Montclair, was arrested after police learned that he had a warrant out of the Essex County Sheriff’s Office. Bail had not been set at the time of the report. Beckett was later turned over to members of the Essex County Sheriff’s Office.

When it comes to the recent string of armed robberies, on Feb. 1 at about 7:35 p.m., an armed robbery was reported at Subway on Bloomfield Avenue.

An employee told police she had been working at the counter when a man walked into the store. The suspect approached the counter and stated, “Give me money.” The employee stated that she did not have any money of her own, just the store’s money. The suspect then pulled an item out from underneath an orange cloth or scarf that she believed to be a handgun, as she spotted what she thought to be the barrel of a firearm.

The employee then proceeded to give the suspect about $500 from the store’s register. The suspect then is believed to have placed the money in a black backpack with a drawstring top that he was carrying. The suspect fled the store and was last seen running eastbound on Bloomfield Avenue.

The suspect is described as a black man, approximately 6’0”, with a stocky build. He was last seen wearing a black shirt or jacket, black gloves, a black or blue scarf, and a winter hat that concealed most of his face.

Anyone with further information is asked to contact Detective Joseph Anderson at 973-509-4706.

Also on Feb. 1, just 10 minutes later, an attempted armed robbery occurred at Ruthie's Bar-B-Q and Pizza.

Upon arrival, police spoke to an employee who stated that a person had just attempted to rob the business and that another worker had chased the suspect, traveling west on Chestnut Street.

The employee told police that the suspect entered the store at about 7:40 p.m. and approached the front counter where he displayed “an orange, Middle Eastern type scarf wrapped around a small object.” The suspect then pointed the scarf containing the object at the employees and stated, “Give me the f...... money. Give me all the f...... money. This isn’t a joke.”

One of the employees paused briefly and began to reach below the counter when the suspect suddenly fled from the restaurant. One of the employees told the others to call the police as he began to chase the suspect. There was nothing stolen during the robbery.

The suspect is described as a black man who spoke with a slight accent, approximately 6’0”, heavy or stocky build, and approximately thirty-five to forty-five years old. He was last seen wearing a black watch cap, a black scarf covering his nose and mouth, black gloves, and a black, military style field jacket.

Anyone with further information is asked to contact Detective Joseph Anderson at 973-509-4706.

These incidents come on the heels of another armed robbery on Monday night at the Golden Chinese restaurant on Grove Street.

In yet another armed robbery, on Jan. 28, an armed robbery was reported on Washington Street.