Stolen Barnegat Vehicle Used In 2 Atlantic Co. Robberies: Police

EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, NJ — Authorities in Atlantic County are seeking information from the public after a stolen vehicle from Barnegat was used in two robberies and fled from police earlier this week.

On Monday just before 2 p.m., Hamilton Township police responded to the Marshalls parking lot on Black Horse Pike for a report of a robbery. The incident happened while a woman was exiting her vehicle to retrieve her purse from the trunk, police said.

As the woman walked away from her vehicle toward the store, she saw two men standing between nearby vehicles. A third man approached her from behind and stole the purse from her shoulder, according to police.

The men fled in a black 2017 Hyundai Elantra, which police found was stolen from Barnegat. Police said the vehicle circled around the parking lot and attempted to strike the woman before fleeing the area.

About one hour later, Egg Harbor Township police responded to the English Creek Shopping Center parking lot to investigate a strong-armed robbery and assault.

A 64-year-old male was knocked to the ground and struck multiple times by a group of male suspects, who police believe to be the same group from the Hamilton Township incident. The suspects stole the victim’s car keys and other property.

The suspects arrived in the same vehicle occupied by the suspects in the Hamilton Township incident, according to police. The suspects fled the parking lot area in that stolen vehicle while a co-conspirator stole the victim’s vehicle.

Officer Eliael Ramirez located the stolen vehicle from Barnegat traveling south on Fernwood Avenue from Route 322. The driver refused to stop for Ramirez and fled from him, police said.

As the suspect vehicle turned onto West Jersey Avenue to travel east, it crashed into another motorist traveling east. The suspect vehicle was last seen on West Jersey Avenue travelling into the Harbor Square Mall access road, adjacent to Route 322, police said.

The vehicle used in both incidents was a black 2017 Hyundai Elantra and the vehicle stolen from the English Creek Shopping Center incident was a blue 2020 Toyota Camry that has since been recovered in Atlantic City, according to police.

Anyone with information regarding these incidents is urged to contact Detective Kyle Warren of The Egg Harbor Township Police Department Criminal Investigations Bureau at 609-926-4051 or Detective Gregory Blouse of the Hamilton Township Criminal Investigations Bureau at 609-625-2700.

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