Secaucus Man Charged With Robbing Gas Stations, Hotels In Town

SECAUCUS, NJ — A local Secaucus man was arrested Sunday, Jan. 21 and charged with robbing a gas station in town at knifepoint, as well as two hotels in town. Police say he robbed the same gas station on Rt. 3 twice the past two weekends in a row.

The gas station at 445 Rt. 3 East was first robbed last Monday, MLK Day, Jan. 15 at approximately 8:30 p.m. An attendant working there said he was robbed at knifepoint and a man took $150.

Two days later, last Wednesday, Jan. 17, a burglary was reported at the front desk area of the Extended Stay Hotel at 1 Plaza Drive, where over $300 was stolen. That happened just before midnight last Wednesday.

Then at 5:45 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 19 an armed robbery at knifepoint was committed at the Extended Stay
America Hotel, located at 1 Meadowlands Parkway, where $150 was stolen from the front desk.

Finally, this past Sunday, Jan. 21 Secaucus police were again called to the same Rt. 3 gas station at 3:54 p.m., where the attendant said the male suspect returned, displayed a kitchen knife, made off with over $200 and then fled the area on foot.

A short time later, Detective Aniello Schaffer, who was combing the area, located Kareem Abdelaal, 28 of Secaucus, on Cedar Avenue, which is a short distance from the gas station. Abdelaal was found in possession of a folding knife at the time of his arrest, police said. The actual knife utilized in the robbery was discarded, but recovered in the area a short time later, police said.

He was charged with robbery in the Jan. 21 incident. Police said they obtained enough evidence to additionally charge Abdelaal with the two additional aforementioned robberies and burglary.

"Due to the sheer amount of hotels located within the town and commercial establishments along Route 3, Secaucus occasionally falls victim to some of these types of crimes," said Secaucus Police Chief Kevin Flaherty. "However, the police department routinely patrols these areas and diligently follows up on the crimes committed, irrespective of where exactly they occur.”

Anyone with any additional information regarding these robberies is asked to contact the Secaucus
Police Detective Division at (201) 330-2052 or detectivedivision@secaucus.net.

Image released by the Secaucus Police Dept.