By: Richard L. Smith
Police departments in Essex and Union counties are investigating two armed robberies in Hillside and Irvington on Wednesday.
According to Hillside Police, at approximately 5:25 p.m., officers responded to 1400 Liberty Avenue (BP Gas Station) on a robbery report.
Hillside Police Chief Vincent Ricciardi said responding officers spoke with an attendant who stated a red vehicle with 3 to 4 occupants pulled up to a pump and requested gas.
Police said as the attendant was pumping gas, a male got out of the vehicle, pressed an object against the back of the attendant, and told him not to move.
According to Chief Ricciardi, the suspect then took an unknown amount of cash before doing the same to a second gas station attendant.
Police say the suspect got back into the vehicle and fled.
The Criminal Investigative Division is investigating the incident.
Irvington authorized said at approximately 5:17 p.m., they believe the same suspects robbed Delta Gas Station located at 465 Coit Street.
Police said the suspects were operating a red Hyundai Sedan. One of the suspects exited the vehicle and gestured as if he had a gun.
During the robbery, police said the gas station attendee turned over approximately $500 to the suspect, who drove away.
The suspect car was later recovered in New York. The Irvington police detective division is investigating the matter.
A short time after, the suspect’s stolen vehicle was recovered in Newark Hillside Police said.