A 15-year-old from Newark was charged with robbing a Bayonne grocery store last week, threatening a cashier in the process, police said.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
The juvenile, 15, of Newark, was charged with robbery, according to Police Sgt. William Dundas.
Juvenile 1 was taken into custody by Bayonne Police Department Detectives on October 1st at approximately 12:43 a.m. in the area of Bergen Avenue in Jersey City.
On September 28th, the victim reported that while working at tje Bayonne Dollar Grocery Store, located at 1095 Avenue C, a teenage boy removed items from the store without paying.
Shortly thereafter, he returned to the store demanding additional items and threatened the employee while holding his hand in his waistband, stating that that he was in possession of a firearm.
A follow-up investigation by the Bayonne Police Department Detective Bureau led to the identity and apprehension of the juvenile, Dundas said.
There needs to be some intervention here. This young person went all the way to Bayonne, and someone needs to take the time to sit down with them and understand what’s going on. It could be that they’re homeless, thinking that getting three meals and a place to sleep is better than what they have at home. Maybe they don’t have enough food or are simply searching for love and support in the wrong places. What they need is intervention, not jail. Our society is too quick to incarcerate young people without first identifying the root of the problem.