Man Arrested For Armed Robberies At 5 Hoboken Stores: Police (UPDATE)

HOBOKEN, NJ — A Jersey City man was arrested for armed robberies of five Hoboken stores since mid-January, police said Friday.

Matthew Trontz, 31, of Jersey City was charged in connection with these robberies:

• Jan.15 at Prime Gourmet, 720 Monroe St.
• Feb. 12 at Prime Stop, 1029 Willow St.
• Feb. 12 at Hoboken Mini Mart, 532 Washington St.
• Feb. 20 at A&H Smoke Shop, 1222 Washin
• Feb. 27 at Thomas’ Ice Cream Cafe, 214 Jefferson St.

An investigation by the Hoboken Police Department’s Detectives Bureau connected the cases and ultimately led to the arrest of Trontz immediately following the final incident, a police spokesperson said Friday.

"In each case, Trontz brandished a weapon that the victims believed was a silver handgun or black stun gun," a spokesperson said. "He fled each location with cash and/or vaping products. Upon arrest, officers found him in possession of a silver imitation toy gun, a black stun gun, a foldable pocketknife, and three cans of pepper spray."

Trontz, who was arrested by Hoboken Police in Jersey City, has been charged with:
• First Degree Robbery
• Second Degree Possession of a Handgun
• Second Degree Possession of a Weapon for Unlawful Purposes
• Second Degree Certain Persons Not to Have Weapons
• Fourth Degree Possession of a Weapon for Unlawful Purposes
• Fourth Degree Possession of Prohibited Weapons and Devices
• Fourth degree unlawful possession of weapon

Trontz was taken to the Hudson County Correctional Facility, police said.

“I want to personally thank the many members of the Hoboken Police Department who worked diligently to connect and solve these crimes,” said Police Chief Steven Aguiar. “The arrest and related charges are a demonstration of the Department’s commitment to serve our residents, keep the city safe, and bring potentially violent criminals to justice.”

The investigations were led by Detectives Ryan Houghton, Tyler Soto, and Michael Losurdo. Also involved in this case were Sergeants William Collins, Luke Zeszotarski, Dennis Figueroa, and Francis McCourt, Detectives Christine Collins Andrew Perez, Bret Globke, Samuel Flores,Luis Rodriguez, Connor Milne, Fabian Quinones, and Police Officers Daniela Simone, Paul Quinn, Ricky Truppner, Harold Milne, Nick Valerius, Harry Montalvo, Enrico Gnassi, Jonathan Figueroa, Shelby Seickendick, Aaron Font, Chelsea Tambora, Mathew Bonanno, Mark Mooreman, Shawn Sodora, Alexander Miller, Shyenna Vega, and Nasir Willey,

The Hoboken Police Department thanked the Hoboken Volunteer Ambulance Corps and the New Jersey Transit and Jersey City Police Departments as well.