Armed Robbery at Route 1 Gas Station May be Part of Larger Crime Spree

South Brunswick Police are searching for two suspects who used a shotgun to rob a Route 1 gas station early Monday morning.

At 4:38 a.m., police responded to the Valero gas station at the corner of Route 1 and Raymond Road. The station's attendant told police was in the center booth by the gas pumps when two men approached on foot.
 
The attendant said the two suspects pushed in screen windows on both sides of the booth, as one pointed a sawed off shotgun at him demanding money and the victim's wallet, according to police. 

The suspects made off with the cash box from the booth and then fled on foot towards Raymond Road. Both suspects were described by police as black males wearing what appeared to be white t-shirts wrapped around their faces.

Police believe the suspects fled in vehicle that was parked nearby on Raymond Road.

The robbery matches two others that were carried out recently in East Brunswick and Edison. At approximately 4:45 a.m. on Sept. 15, East Brunswick Police responded to a report of an armed robbery at the Exxon station at the corner of Route 18 and Rues Lane.

The gas station attendant told responding officers that two males entered the station carrying a short handled shotgun and demanded money, according to police. The suspects made off with an undetermined amount of money, cigarettes, cigars and batteries, before they fled from the scene in a minivan parked behind the gas station.

One suspect was described by police as a light skinned black male, standing approximately 6’0” to 6’03” tall, bald with a medium build, wearing a long sleeve tan shirt with a checkered design and green/black camouflage pants.

The second suspect was described by police as a black male, standing approximately 5’07” to 6’0” tall, wearing black pants and a black hooded sweatshirt.

Both suspects were described as wearing what appeared to be white t-shirts wrapped around their faces to hide their identity. 

"These robberies share similarities with the weapon that was displayed and the timing, which all happened during the early morning hours," said South Brunswick Police spokesman Sgt. Jim Ryan. "There are enough similarities to make us believe these events are linked. 

"We're asking gas station attendants working around those hours to call us if they see anything suspicious. If anyone who was commuting on Raymond Road around that time (4:30 a.m.) saw any vehicle sitting on the shoulder, we'd like to talk to them."

South Brunswick Police are coordinating with the other area police departments in the investigation. Anyone with information or who may have been traveling in the area at the time is asked to call Det. Roger Tuohy at 732-329-4000 ext. 7484