Armed Suspects Sought In Attempted Garwood Supermarket Robbery

GARWOOD, NJ — Police said a pair of armed suspects tried to rob a Garwood supermarket after it closed on Wednesday, with one threatening an employee with a gun before both fled the store. Officials are asking residents nearby to check their security footage for possible footage of the suspects.

Employees at Kings Food Markets on South Avenue called 911 at 10:48 p.m. on Dec. 13 to report that two armed men were attempting a robbery, according to police. When officers arrived, the employees told them that two men in surgical masks and dark clothing entered the store after hours.

When an employee confronted them, one suspect pulled out a gun, police said. The suspects left without getting any money, and fled the area before police arrived.

Police Chief Douglas Stoffer noted that this is "a rare occurrence" for the Garwood community and added, "I'm saddened that these employees had to go through this traumatic event and that these types of events are happening in communities like ours more and more often. No one is immune to these types of heinous criminal acts."

The suspects are described as Black men between the ages of 40 and 50 years old, both wearing dark-colored hooded sweatshirts and dark pants. One suspect was wearing a red backpack, police added.

The Garwood Police Department is asking residents in the area to check their security camera records for possible footage of the suspects between the hours of 10:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. This includes neighbors living near where Willow, Myrtle, and Spruce Avenues intersect with East Street, police said Thursday.

Anyone with information can call Garwood Police at (908) 789-1500 or email Detective@garwood.org.