Howell Armed Robber Lured Employee, Then Held Him Up: Police

HOWELL, NJ — Howell Township police are circulating a sketch of a man sought in the armed robbery of a check cashing store that happened Tuesday.

The suspect is described as a white male in his 40s or 50s wearing sunglasses and a multi-colored bandanna around his neck, said Detective Sgt. Christian Antunez. The suspect is about 5-foot-6 with a medium build and he had short gray hair and a scruffy beard. He was wearing a hooded sweatshirt or jacket, Antunez said.

Antunez said the man fled in a white 2004-2007 Ford Econoline van north on Route 9.

"The Howell Police Department previously released a photo of a white Ford F250 pickup truck as a possible suspect vehicle. Although this vehicle was not the suspect vehicle, the operator of the vehicle is being sought as a potential witness," Antunez said.

The robbery happened shortly after 11:30 a.m. at The Check Cashing Station at 5995 Route 9 in Howell. Police received a 911 call from the store employee at 11:37 a.m. reporting the robbery, Antunez said.

The employee, who was working by himself at the time, told police the suspect came in and spoke with the employee briefly, and lured the employee out of the locked office area under false pretenses, Antunez said. The suspect then showed the employee a semi-automatic handgun and demanded the employee allow him into the locked office area, and the employee complied, he said. The suspect then forced the employee into the bathroom and proceeded to steal a significant sum of cash, Antunez said.

The suspect fled the area within minutes, at which time the employee called 9-1-1, he said.

"No shots were fired, no assault took place and no one was injured in the robbery," Antunez said.

The robbery remains under investigation by the Howell Police Department Investigations Division, he said.

The sketch of the suspect was created by the New Jersey State Police Forensic Photography & Composite Artist Unit.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Anthony Romano at 732-938-4575 ext. 2879 or via e-mail at aromano@howellpolice.org. Anonymous tips can also be provided via our anonymous tip line, www.p3tips.com.

Suspect sketch and van photo provided by Howell Township Police