Man Punches 70-Year-Old In Face During Franklin Robbery: Police

FRANKLIN, NJ — A South Brunswick man was arrested and charged with robbery of a 70-year-old man at a strip mall in Franklin.

On May 18 at 4:14 p.m., the Monmouth Junction victim said he was approached by a man, later identified as Dain A. Smith, 22, of Susan Court in the Kendall Park section of South Brunswick, according to Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson.

Smith begins talking to the victim while at a Route 27 strip mall in the Franklin Park section of the township.

During the conversation, Smith demands that the victim give him his gold necklace. When the victim refuses, Smith punches the victim in the face, and then forcefully rips the gold chain off the victim's neck before fleeing southbound on Route 27, Robertson reports.

Franklin Township Police arrive and were unable to locate Smith. Township detectives obtain video footage from a nearby surveillance camera that identifies Smith as the man who committed the robbery, according to the report.

Smith was later seen walking on Delar Parkway in Franklin Park on May 19 where he was arrested without further incident.

Smith was transported to the Franklin Township Police Headquarters for processing, and he was charged with second-degree, robbery. He was lodged in the Somerset County Jail awaiting a bail hearing.

(Image via Somerset County Prosecutor's Office: Dain A. Smith, 22, of Susan Court in the Kendall Park section of South Brunswick)

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