Crime & Safety
Alleged Thief Hit Gas Stations In Bridgewater, Bound Brook: Prosecutor
Breaking: The Flemington man stole cash from 3 gas stations in Bound Brook and Bridgewater in a matter of less than 24 hours, police say.
BRIDGEWATER, NJ — A Flemington man was arrested and charged with stealing cash from three gas stations in Bridgewater and Bound Brook, authorities report.
A BP Service Station employee on West Union Avenue in Bound Brook reported a theft on Monday, Jan. 23 at around 9:04 p.m.
Karl M. Bavos, 29, of Flemington asked the gas station attendant to buy a cigar. While making the purchase, Bavos reached into the cash register and stole an undetermined amount of cash, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said.
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Bavos fled in a dark-colored car and a partial plate was reported to police.
Later that same night at around 11:43 p.m., an attendant at the Valero Service Station on Route 22 East in Bridgewater reported a theft.
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A dark-colored car pulled up to one of the gas pumps and Bavos asked to buy gas and cigarettes. When the attendant walked to the booth to get the cigarettes, Bavos got out of his car and began to follow him. While the gas station attendant was getting the cigarettes, Bavos then allegedly reached into his pocket and stole cash, according to Robertson.
Bavos then ran back to his car and fled the area.
The following morning, on Tuesday, Jan. 24 at around 8:17 a.m. an employee of Speedway Service Station located on Route 22 West in Bridgewater reported an attempted theft.
The gas station attendant reported Bavos pulled into the station and asked him for change. When the attendant got the money from his pocket, Bavos tried to grab the cash but couldn't and fled in his car, according to the report.
The crime was caught on the service station’s video camera where Bavos was able to be identified by detectives.
Later that morning around 11:15 a.m., a Bound Brook Patrol Officer spotted Bavos and his car, a blue Volvo parked on Fisher Avenue.
Bavos was arrested without incident. He was charged with 3rd Degree, Theft by Unlawful Taking and 3rd Degree, Criminal Attempt.
He was lodged in the Somerset County Jail without bail pending a detention hearing.
(Image via Somerset County Prosecutor's Office: Karl M. Bavos, 29, of Flemington)
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