Two stores in NA robbed

Photos and information by Diane Tilley

North Arlington Police are busy investigating two liquor store incidents that occurred last week. On Thursday, Feb. 19, at the Lucky 7 food and liquor store located at 67 River Road in North Arlington had an armed robbery. According to manager, Jay Patel, a black man – his face obscured by a mask and hat, wearing a dark jacket with a red stripe – entered the store at approximately 8:30 p.m.
After pulling a gun on one of the two employees in the store, the armed man handed a bag to the clerk and demanded cash. Once the employee emptied the cash register, the suspect became agitated and he demanded more money before discharging his weapon into the counter, Patel said. He also said additional money was added to the bag and the man then fled the scene. There were no customers in the store, which usually closes at 10 p.m.
“I’ve been here for five years and never had to deal with anything like this, I guess everything changes. The important thing is that no one got hurt,” Patel said, pointing out the bullet hole in the counter.
Patel said security in the store is being increased and tapes from the store's surveillance cameras were turned over to North Arlington Police.
In another incident, on Sunday, Feb. 22, Dunn’s Liquors located at 376 Belleville Turnpike suffered a break-in between 2 and 5 a.m. when someone smashed the front door of the store to get into the store. Storeowner Bharat Privedi said the burglar stole cash from the register, the lottery machine and took all the cigarettes in the store. Police believe blood left at the scene of the crime indicate the burglar was injured climbing through the smashed glass of the front door, according to Privedi.
“I’ve owned this store for four years, I’ve always felt safe here because of the visible police presence,” Privedi said. Store surveillance tapes were turned over to North Arlington police. Both crimes are still under investigation.