String of Robberies Hit South Orange

There were four robberies in just six days around South Orange Village between Nov. 18 and Nov. 23, police said in a written statement.

The first occurred on Monday, Nov. 18 around 10 p.m. when an Irvington Ave. woman was walking down Cottage Street. According to a police report, she was approached by a man who brandished a knife and demanded she turn over her property.

The thief, who was described as 6-foot and wearing a black leather jacket with a hood attached and a grey and white bandana covering his face, took only her cell phone before fleeing on South Orange Ave.

The following night, at around 11 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 19, a gas station attendant at the gas station on Irvington Ave. adjacent to College Pl. was robbed at gun point while he was sitting inside the office area.

“The victim stated that the subject entered the office area and demanded money while he brandished a black colored handgun,” police said.

The attendant turned over an undisclosed amount of money to the robber, who fled on foot down Lindsley Pl. He was described as about five-foot-six, 150 pounds, between 30 and 40 years of age and was wearing a dark colored bandana over part of his face and a grey zip up hooded sweatshirt.

The next day, Wednesday, Nov. 20, South Orange Police arrested 19-year old Umar Fleming of Newark after Detectives determined that he was responsible for committing a robbery of a woman's cell phone on Wilden Pl. The robbery occurred during the morning hours of Oct. 7 as the victim was walking to the Seton Hall University campus.

A South Orange business, located on South Orange Ave. near Academy Street was robbed at gunpoint on Thursday, Nov. 21 around 9 p.m. The man entered the store and pointed a dark colored revolver and demanded money.

The robber took an undisclosed amount of cash before running out the rear of the building. The Detective Bureau is actively investigating the incident.

Two teens from Newark and Irvington were arrested by South Orange Police on Saturday, Nov. 23 on robbery charges, according to a police report.

The 17-year old from Newark and the 16-year old from Irvington allegedly threatened to accault a victim in a South Orange Ave. store unless he gave them his phone.

“The victim refused and a disturbance ensued where the actors fled on foot up Irvington Ave,” police said. “Both juveniles were arrested by responding Officers, transported to police headquarters and processed accordingly.”

South Orange Police Chief James Chelel spoke of the string of robberies while addressing the South Orange Board of Trustees.

“There has been some concerns over some robberies that we've had,” he said. “I'd like to say in general in South Orange you are safe and the police department is there for you all the time and it's important that if you see something, say something,” he said. “We have a neighborhood watch that is second to none. If you think there is something going on, give us a call, we will be there.”

Click here to watch Chief Chelel address the South Orange Board of Trustees.