2 Men Steal Lottery Tickets, Condoms During Robbery Of Mahwah Store: Police

MAHWAH, NJ — Police have made an arrest in connection with a robbery in Mahwah last month in which men took lottery tickets and condoms from a convenience store on Route 17, police said.

Rafael Rodriguez of the Bronx has been arrested in connection with the incident, said the Mahwah police on Wednesday.

Police said that on Nov. 21, they responded to Bolla Market at 131 Route 17 North for a report of a robbery in progress.

The suspects had already fled onto Route 17 North in a blue Toyota Highlander with a Connecticut registration, police said.

Police investigated and determined that one man entered the store and began demanding cigarettes despite not having any money. He left and soon returned wearing a surgical mask, gloves, and a dark colored unbuttoned coat over the sweatshirt he was previously wearing, police said.

Then he grabbed several screwdrivers near the register and pointed them at the clerk, police say, demanding cigarettes and money.

He then jumped up on the counter and began taking lottery tickets from a display case, police said.

The clerk attempted to stop him, "but the suspect lunged at the clerk with the screwdrivers," police say.

While this was occurring, a second man entered the store and removed condoms and lottery tickets as well, police say.

Then both men left and got into the vehicle — stopping it to wait for the man to come back and take more lottery tickets before finally driving off, police said.

Mahwah Detectives, along with the Bergen County Sheriff’s Department Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) arrived, processed the scene and reviewed surveillance videos, police said.

They issued a warrant for Rodriguez.

New Jersey State Police arrested him for a separate incident and took him to the Middlesex County Jail, police said.

Mahwah police took custody and brought him to Mahwah for processing, they said.

He was charged with armed robbery, aggravated assault, theft, and weapons possession charges.

He's now in the Bergen County Jail, awaiting his first appearance, they said.

Police said they're still looking for the second man. If anyone has information on this robbery, contact the Detective Bureau at 201-831-2020.

Police noted that detectives who investigated the incident were Lt. Kevin Hebert, Sgt. Eric Larsen, Det. Christopher Fasulo and Det. Timothy Letavish.