South Orange Police arrested a 16-year-old and a 14-year-old in a strong-arm robbery of a 16-year-old South Orange boy who was walking his dog on Sinclair Terrace last Tuesday. A Maplewood man who witnessed the robbery chased the two away on foot and caused them to drop the phone.
The robbery took place at around 3:50 p.m. when the South Orange teen was approached by two boys, one on foot and the other riding a bike. The older boy punched the teen in the face, shoved him to the ground and took his phone, said Chief James Chelel.
The Maplewood resident, a 22-year-old graduate of Columbia High School, saw the attack from his car and yelled at the teens to drop the victim’s phone; he followed them by car and then pursued them on foot, according to the victim’s mother. The teens dropped the phone and ran away toward Newark, said Chelel.
Police searched the surrounding area but were unable to locate the teens. However, the victim and the witness were able to give detailed descriptions of the two, said Chelel. “One of them had a unique look” with dyed yellow hair worn in twists like a mohawk, said Chelel. “We were familiar with him.”
On Friday, South Orange detectives went to Irvington High School and with assistance from the Irvington Police Department, arrested the two. The 16-year-old is a Newark resident and the 14-year-old is an Irvington resident; both attend Irvington High School. The two were charged with robbery and conspiracy, said Chelel.
The South Orange teen’s mother said in a phone interview that the man’s “selfless and courageous” action — as well as the assistance of several neighbors — stopped the incident from being worse than it might have. “There was good neighborly help,” she said. She also praised the South Orange Police Department’s “excellent work in apprehending the two suspects.”
“We appreciate that [the witness] called and gave such a good description [of the suspects],” said Chelel. However, he said police discourage people from putting themselves in harms’ way in a crime.
Chelel said when out walking, people should not have their cell phones out or be on headphones, and should always be aware of their surroundings. If someone approaches and asks for your phone, “don’t fight back. Give it up. You can always replace your phone.”
He commended the good detective work by South Orange and Irvington detectives.
