QuikCheck Held Up For 10 Packs Of Cigarettes: Maplewood Police

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — A man entered a QuickChek grocery store in Maplewood shortly after midnight, demanded a carton of cigarettes, and said he had a gun, Police Chief James DeVaul said.

Police received a 911-call at 12:10 a.m. from the market at 1545 Springfield Ave., police said.

An employee told police that an unknown male had entered the store and appeared to wait until all other customers made their purchases and left. Then, the man asked for a carton of cigarettes, the employee told police.

The employee placed 10 packages of cigarettes on the counter and asked the man if he would be paying with cash or credit, according to police.

The man "signaled toward his sweatshirt" and said, “I have a gun. Give me the cigarettes," according to what the employee told police.

The victim placed the $100 worth of cigarettes in a brown paper bag and handed them to the man, police said.

Police said that the man left and said to the employee, “If you call the cops, I’ll come back and shoot you."

Police said the man was approximately 40 years of age, 5’5” in height, with a scruff of facial hair. He wore black pants, a black hooded sweatshirt, and a light colored face mask with the hood over his head.

The police reviewed surveillance cameras and saw a man matching the description exit the store and run eastbound on Springfield Avenue at 12:03 a.m., police said.

Then man then continued through the rear parking lot of Bank of America toward Jacoby Street.

Officers looked in the area but did not see the man. They said they don't know if a vehicle is involved.

The store employee declined medical attention.

Detectives are investigating.

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