Two Men Arrested In Gas Station Robberies In Middlesex County; One Was In South Brunswick

Two men were arrested in connection to a series of armed robberies of gas stations over the past eight days in two counties - one of which was in South Brunswick, police said.

Bruce Barabato, 27 of South Brunswick and Joseph Pulos, 26, of North Brunswick were arrested following the most recent robbery Monday afternoon at the Valero Gas Station on Route 130 in South Brunswick, police said. At 4:15 p.m., South Brunswick Police received a 911 call reporting two men had just held up the gas station at knifepoint.

According to police:

One of the attendants was able to observe the suspects flee in a green Ford Explorer north on Route 130. This matched similar robberies over the past week. As South Brunswick officers were responding to the gas station, dispatchers alerted North Brunswick Police of the robbery.

Within minutes a North Brunswick officer observed a green Ford Explorer in the Gulf Gas Station on Route 130. The North Brunswick officers approached the two occupants of the Explorer and observed a large sum of cash, a folding knife and some syringes.

Detectives from North Brunswick and South Brunswick conducted a search of the vehicle and recovered items linking the suspects to the gas station robberies. Detectives believe the suspects are responsible for five gas station robberies in Middlesex and Somerset County over the past eight days. In each case the suspects would approach the gas attendant on foot and demand money while displaying a knife.

Both suspects were arrested and charged with armed robbery and unlawful possession of a weapon. They are charged with two robberies in South Brunswick and one in North Brunswick, additional charges are expected. Both are lodged in the Middlesex County Correction Center on $375,000 bail.

Chief Raymond Hayducka credited the partnership between the two police departments with putting a stop to the crimes. “The suspects may have believed by moving around to different towns they could avoid apprehension. Our partnership with other police agencies allowed for quick actions to stop their crime spree,” said ayducka.