By: Richard L. Smith
Authorities in Essex and Hudson counties are looking for two suspects who are wanted for attempting to hold up gas stations in Kearny Sunday.
Captain Tim Wagner from Kearny Police said at 5:52 p.m., Officer Mathew Lopez was dispatched to the Citgo gas station at 1 Belgrove Dr. for a call of an armed robbery.
According to Captain Wagner, the employee reported to the officer that two Black males had arrived at the gas pump in a gray Hyundai Elantra.
Captain Wagner said the driver handed the gas attendant a credit card and requested that he fill the tank. Before the attendant could dispense fuel, the backseat passenger pointed a handgun at the attendant.
According to Captain Wagner, the attendant ran for cover and the Hyundai sped off without obtaining any robbery proceeds.
Officers later learned the credit card used by the driver was stolen from a woman in Elizabeth about a half hour earlier.
Four minutes after this report was received, Captain Wagner said the gas attendant flagged down Officer Nicholas Funk at the Jersey Oil gas station at 926 Passaic Ave.
Officer Funk learned that a gray sedan occupied by two Black males had pulled up to the gas pump and when the attendant approached the passenger window, the passenger displayed a handgun and demanded money.
Captain Wagner said the attendant ran behind the sedan, then sped off and crossed the Rutgers Street Bridge into Belleville without the suspects getting any proceeds from the robbery.
The Hyundai Elantra Sedan was later recovered abandoned in the Weequahic section of Newark.
Authorities have not confirmed if the same suspects robbed a gas station and attempted another robbery in Harrison last week.
The car had been reported stolen to Newark Police earlier that day. Detective Anthony Nunez will lead the investigation.
Captain Wagner urges anyone with information pertinent to the investigation are asked to contact Det. Nunez at (201) 998-1313 ext. 2821 or at tips@kearnynjpd.org. Reference case numbers 23-13,136 and 23-13,140.