Hillsborough Man Arrested In Multi-County Bank Robbery Spree

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — A Hillsborough man was arrested in connection with multiple bank robberies spanning multiple counties in October.

Mark Elbaum, 52, of Merritt Drive, Hillsborough was located in the township on Monday around 6:45 p.m. and has been charged in connection with two bank robberies in Somerset County and one in North Brunswick, according to Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson.

Investigations involving the other jurisdictions are currently pending including in West Windsor, Middlesex and Flemington.

The first bank robbery was reported on Oct. 1 at around 9:33 a.m. at the Financial Resources Federal Credit Union located on Easton Avenue in Franklin Township.

A man, later identified as Elbaum, entered the bank demanding money from the bank teller. The bank teller turned over cash to Elbaum and he fled on foot, according to Robertson.

A second robbery was reported on Oct. 23 at about 12:05 p.m., at the Peapack-Gladstone Banklocated on East Main Street in Bridgewater Township. A man, later identified as Elbaum, entered the bank demanding money from the bank teller. The teller turned over cash and Elbaum then fled the bank. (See Related: Man Wanted For Robbing Bridgewater Bank)

It was determined that Elbaum was a suspect in both Somerset County robberies, as well as additional bank robberies in surrounding jurisdictions.

A bank robbery was also reported on Oct. 24 at around 9 a.m. at the Northfield Bank on Main Street in Flemington.

Another bank robbery was then reported on Thursday, Oct. 25 at the Unity Bank on Bound Brook Road in Middlesex borough. (See Related: Middlesex Boro Bank Latest To Be Hit By Same Suspect, Cops Say)

On Monday, Oct. 29, West Windsor police responded to the Santander Bank branch at 44 Princeton-Hightstown Road at about 10:14 a.m. fr an attempted bank robbery. Elbaum had fled the bank before they arrived. A man matching the same description then robbed the Valley National Bank on Route 27 in North Brunswick at about 10:50 a.m., police said. (See Related: Arrest Made In West Windsor Attempted Bank Robbery: Cops)

Elbaum has been charged with two counts of secon-degree robbery in Somerset County. Elbaum was lodged in the Somerset County Jail, pending a detention hearing. Elbaum was also charged in North Brunswick with first-degree robbery. Investigations involving the other jurisdictions are currently pending.

The Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, along with detectives from the Franklin Township Police Department, the Bridgewater Township Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Hillsborough Township Police Department and the North Brunswick Police Department helped identify Elbaum.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, North Brunswick Police Department, Edison Police Department, Middlesex Borough Police Department, Flemington Borough Police Department, and the Bensalem Police Department (Pennsylvania) also assisted in the investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100, the Franklin Township Police Department at 732-873-5533 or the Bridgewater Police Department at 908-722-4111 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ.

Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477) or online at www.888577tips.org or at www.scpo.net and click on either “Crime Stoppers” or “TIPS HOTLINE.” All anonymous Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

(Image via Somerset County Prosecutors Office: Mark Elbaum, 52, of Merritt Drive, Hillsborough)

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