Full Notification

Newark Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose is requesting the public’s assistance in providing information regarding four suspects in a kidnapping and robbery incident that occurred on Sunday, April 7th, 2019.

Shortly before 3:30 p.m., a Lyft driver arrived at the 700-block of South 18th Street to pick up a requested ride. Three male passengers, who may be juveniles, entered the vehicle and forced the driver to take them to four different locations at gunpoint. The first location was the Capital One Bank at 487 Springfield Avenue. Two of the suspects entered the bank, leaving the third suspect with the victim inside the vehicle.

The suspects then forced the driver to take them to the 700-block of Hunterdon Street, where a female, who may also be a juvenile, entered the vehicle. Next, the suspects demanded the driver take them to Walgreens at 361 Bergen Street, where the female remained without re-entering the vehicle. The three males then forced the victim to drive them back to the 700-block of Hunterdon Street and one of the male suspects exited the vehicle.

The remaining two suspects then forced the driver to take them to Stop & Shop at 901 Newark Avenue in Elizabeth. Once in the parking lot, the suspects robbed the Lyft driver of his personal belongings and deducted the earnings from his ride share app before fleeing.

Detectives investigating this incident are seeking any information that may assist them in identifying the suspects.

Director Ambrose urges anyone with information about these suspects to call the Department's 24-hour Crime Stopper tip line at 1-877-NWK-TIPS (1-877-695-8477) or 1-877-NWK-GUNS (1-877-695-4867). All anonymous Crime Stopper tips are kept confidential and could result in a reward.

Anonymous tips may also be made using the Police Division’s website at: www.newarkpd.org or through the Newark Police Division Smartphone App available at iTunes and Google Play.