WEST LONG BRANCH — An armed robber made off with "several hundred dollars" from a holdup at the Mobil gas station on Route 36 at Broadway/Eaton-town Boulevard, police said.
Capt. Michael Hanaway said the robbery occurred at 3:35 a.m. on July 3, when a black male entered the gas station and gave the impression he was making a purchase by asking for some gum and matches.
The robber, however, then produced a dark-colored handgun, took the money and walked out of the station’s store, Hanaway said.
He said there were two employees in the station at the time, but one was in the back room and was unaware that the robbery going on.
Hanaway said the robber appeared to have arrived and departed on foot.
Borough police called Eatontown police and asked for the help of their K-9 team to attempt to track the robber.
Hanaway said a security staffer from Monmouth Park reported seeing a man matching the robber’s description by the railroad tracks behind the race track.
He said the area was checked out with the dog but with negative results.
The robber was described as wearing a shirt with red and yellow stripes, dark-colored jeans and a baseball cap.
Hanaway said there was a heavy odor of alcohol on the suspect.