Police Charge Suspect in Two Alleged Robberies

Hillsborough Township Police and the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office charged a Regents Court resident with robbery and theft Monday, in relation to incidents at two local businesses.

Julian Moreno, 20, of Regents Court, was charged with robbery, first degree, trespassing and possession of drug paraphernalia, from one incident, and theft, third degree, from a second incident.  He was lodged in Somerset County jail on $50,000 bail, according to a release from the prosecutor's office.

According to the release, Hillsborough Township Police received a 9-1-1 call from a Philly Pretzel Factory employee at approximately 7:32 a.m. Monday, with the employee reporting he had been robbed by a man with a baseball bat.  The investigation revealed that a man entered the store wearing a mask and carrying a black and red duffle bag and a red aluminum baseball bat when the employee was opening the business.  Once inside, the man approached the employee, threatened him with the baseball bat and removed $200 in currency from the cash register.  After removing the money, the man exited the store through the rear door, police said.

An investigation by township police determined the man to be Moreno, and he was located at a vacant office suite at 450 Amwell Road at 1:00 p.m. Monday, according to the release.  He was allegedly found in possession of the mask, duffle bag, baseball bat, a hand drawn map of the Philly Pretzel Factory and unspecified drug paraphernalia, and was subsequently charged.

An unrelated investigation into an April 12 theft of $1,126 from the BoroKids Zone on Stryker Lane also led police to Moreno, the release stated.  During that incident, Moreno  entered the business to apply for a job and allegedly took a bank deposit envelop containing money from the business, the prosecutor's office stated.