By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Bergen County announced the arrests of Tymear Haskins, 23, of Wallington, and Devon Delgado, 24, of Lodi, on charges related to armed robberies in Wallington, and Passaic.
Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said the arrests are the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck, the Wallington Police Department under the direction of Chief Shawn Kudlacik, and the Passaic Police Department under the direction of Chief Luis Guzman.
Officials said on Monday, April 8, 2024, at approximately 3:48 p.m., officers from the Wallington Police Department responded to a report of an armed robbery at the 7-11 convenience store located at 358 Main Avenue in Wallington.
According to officials, officers determined that one suspect, armed with a large knife, confronted an employee who was outside the store and had him convince his co-worker to open a locked side door.
Once inside the store, the suspect restrained one employee with a cord and ultimately confined the other employee to a back office, officials stated.
Officials say the suspect threatened to kill the worker if he didn’t comply and stole approximately $2,300 prior to fleeing the store.
The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad was notified, responded, and initiated a joint investigation into the incident.
Officials stated as the investigation was ongoing, detectives learned of a similar incident that occurred on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at approximately 2:58 a.m., when officers from the Passaic Police Department responded to a report of an armed robbery at the 7-11 convenience store located at 11-13 Central Avenue in Passaic.
Officers determined that one suspect, armed with a large knife, approached the store worker and demanded money from the cash registers, authorities say.
Officials said the suspect proceeded to empty the cash register prior to fleeing the store in a vehicle.
The investigation revealed that the vehicle utilized in the commission of the robbery was previously reported stolen in Paterson, officials say.
The investigation, led by detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad and detectives from the Wallington Police Department, identified the suspect as Tymear Haskins for both robberies, officials stated.
According to officials, as a result of the ensuing investigation, on the morning of April 18, 2024, detectives from the Wallington Police Department and Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad located the stolen vehicle in an apartment complex in Wallington, where Haskins was residing.
With assistance from members of the Bergen County Regional SWAT Team, law enforcement apprehended Haskins without incident as he approached the stolen vehicle, officials said.
Additionally, officials stated that detectives determined that Devon Delgado assisted Haskins with removing and discarding the license plates from the stolen vehicle and was also taken into custody.
Officials said on Thursday, April 18, 2024, Tymear Haskins was charged with two counts of first-degree armed robbery, first-degree kidnapping, two counts of fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, two counts of third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, third-degree terroristic threats, third-degree hindering, third-degree receiving stolen property, and a disorderly persons offense of receiving stolen property.
Haskins was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending a first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack, officials say.
Authorities say Devon Delgado was charged with third-degree hindering on Thursday, April 18, 2024, and released on his own recognizance.