Essex and Union County authorities are on the search for two violent suspects who are wanted for robbing at least four gas stations in the region with one of the robberies resulting in an attack and hospitalization of an attendant early Friday morning.
In one of the incidents, West Orange Police officials said an armed robbery occurred at 1:48 a.m at the Exxon gas station located at 270 Prospect Avenue.
West Orange officials said two black males, who wore masks, arrived at the gas station and brandished a handgun then demanded cash.
Police say the attendant handed over approximately $750.00 before the men fled the scene in a dark-colored vehicle.
In Hillside, officers responded to a report of a robbery at the BP Gas station located at 600 Rt. 22 East just before midnight.
Police officials said two masked men, one armed with a gun, entered the gas station booth and took money from the attendant and the entire cash register.
The suspect, armed with a gun, struck the attendant in the head several times before fleeing the scene in a black BMW with tinted windows according to police.
The attendant suffered non-life threatening injuries according to police.
Police believe the same men are responsible for an armed robbery at a gas station located at 1285 McCarter Highway where the suspects arrived and pulled a gun on the attendant then took cash from the establishment. The suspects sped away in a black vehicle that fit the description of the Hillside and West Orange robberies.
Belleville Police did not immediately return requests for public information for an armed robbery that occurred at a gas station in the town early Friday morning.
The men are also suspected of several armed robberies of pedestrians in East Orange and irvington Township.
The vehicle the suspects occupied is identified as a black BMW with tinted windows. The car has a reported license plate number "FD1-721".