2 Men Charged For Gas Station Burglaries On Route 22: Prosecutor

NORTH PLAINFIELD, NJ — Two men were arrested last week and face charges in relation to two gas station burglaries in the North Field area of Route 22, according to the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office.

The men are Abufurgan Ahmad, 54, of Kent Street, Newark, and Coleman Holden, 51, of 9th Avenue, East Orange.

The first burglary happened on April 15, at around 6:23 a.m., when Ahmad opened the door to the office and stole an undisclosed amount in cash, a case of black and mild cigars and jumper cables, while causing approximately $10,000 worth of damage, officials said.

A few weeks later, on May 9, there was another burglary at approximately 10:06 a.m. Investigators concluded that Ahmad forcibly pried open a glass door causing the glass to break to gain entry to the convenience store portion of the gas station.

He stole an undisclosed amount of cash, over $800 worth of lottery tickets, and over $400 of Newport cigarettes while damaging the door, a shelf, and the ATM machine while attempting to pry it open, according to officials.

Investigators found that Holden was also present for the burglary and entered the garage area to steal a backpack leaf blower from the garage.

Ahmad was charged with two counts of third-degree burglary, two counts of third-degree theft by unlawful taking, and two counts of criminal mischief, a disorderly person’s offense.

Holden faces a charge of third-degree burglary and of third-degree theft by unlawful taking.

They were both taken to the Somerset County Jail pending a bail detention hearing.

Officials are asking anyone with relevant information to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100 or the North Plainfield Police Department at 908-769-2937.