Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson, Chief of County Detectives John W. Fodor, Franklin Township Chief of Police Richard Grammar and Bridgewater Chief of Police Alfred Nicaretta announced the arrest of Mark Elbaum, 52, of Hillsborough.
Prosecutor Robertson states that on Oct. 1st at approximately 9:33 a.m., Franklin Township Police Department received a call that a robbery had occurred at the Financial Resources Federal Credit Union located on Easton Avenue in the Township of Franklin. It was reported that a male entered the bank demanding money from the bank teller. The bank teller ultimately turned over cash to the male based on his demands and he subsequently fled the bank on foot.
On Oct. 23rd, at approximately 12:05 p.m., Bridgewater Township Police Department received a call that a robbery had occurred at the Peapack-Gladstone Bank located on East Main Street in the Township of Bridgewater. It was reported that a male entered the bank demanding money from the bank teller. The teller ultimately turned over cash to the male as a result of his demands. The man then fled the bank. It was determined that the same individual was a suspect in both Somerset County robberies, as well as additional bank robberies in surrounding jurisdictions.
As a result of a joint investigation involving detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, along with detectives from the Franklin Township Police Department, the Bridgewater Township Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Hillsborough Township Police Department and the North Brunswick Police Department, defendant Elbaum was identified as the suspect responsible for the bank robberies.
Officials say on Oct. 29th at approximately 6:45 p.m., defendant Elbaum was located within the jurisdiction of Hillsborough Township and taken into custody by detectives without incident.
Defendant Elbaum was charged with two counts of 2nd Degree Robbery in Somerset County. Defendant Elbaum was lodged in the Somerset County Jail, pending a detention hearing. Defendant Elbaum was also charged in North Brunswick with 1st degree Robbery.
Investigations involving the other jurisdictions are currently pending.
Prosecutor Robertson, Chief Fodor, Chief Grammar and Chief Nicaretta request anyone with information to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit at (908) 231-7100, the Franklin Township Police Department at (732) 873-5533 or the Bridgewater Police Department at (908) 722-4111 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ.
Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477) or online at www.888577tips.org or at www.scpo.net and click on either “Crime Stoppers” or “TIPS HOTLINE”. All anonymous Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.
The charges are merely an accusation and that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.