Belleville Woman Robbed At Nutley Business; Police Make Arrest

NUTLEY, NJ — Nutley police have arrested a man who allegedly robbed a 66-year-old Belleville woman at a business on Franklin Avenue on New Year’s Day.

According to the Nutley Police Department, officers responded to the local business at 3:15 p.m. after a caller reported that a man shoved a woman into the store shelving and pulled her purse from her arm.

The alleged assailant then fled the store, the caller said.

The 66-year-old victim sustained a minor injury to her arm and was “extremely shaken.” No weapon was used in the robbery, police said.

The business wasn’t named in a police statement about the incident.

After conducting an investigation, Nutley police identified Stephen Nemec, 26, of Nutley as the alleged robber. Officers located and arrested him in Nutley a short time afterward.

Police charged Nemec with robbery. He also had an active warrant out of Clifton for $2,500, authorities said.

TOP COPS VISIT VICTIM

According to police, the Belleville resident told officers she decided to shop in Nutley because of the town's reputation as a safe community.

On Friday – after the robbery – Nutley Police Director Alphonse Petracco and Nutley Police Chief Thomas Strumolo paid the woman a visit, bringing her a gift of homemade soup. The Nutley police administrators apologized for the incident and assured her that the town is “still is one of the safest towns in New Jersey.”

• See related article: Nutley Makes List Of 'Safest' New Jersey Cities

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