EDISON — Police arrested two New York City men accused of robbing the Abercrombie & Fitch store at the Menlo Park Mall last week and assaulting a 26- year-old security guard in the process.
The incident occurred at 3:50 p.m. Feb. 19, police said.
Edison Police Lt. Sal Filannino said the two suspects — Javier Mathias Vargas, 35, and Marlon Alicivar Mathias Vargas, 30 — each had allegedly concealed 17 shirts in illegal booster bags. The shirts were valued at $60 each.
As the two men left the store, a security guard confronted them.
“The first suspect, Javier Vargas, dropped the booster bag and started fleeing, and the second suspect pulled out a knife and attempted to slash the security guard,” Filannino said.
Edison Police Officers Abbas Husain and Thomas Rizk responded and apprehended the two suspects in the parking lot. The security guard, who was not injured, positively identified them, Filannino said.
The knife and merchandise were recovered, police said.
Javier Vargas was charged with robbery, assault and possession of stolen property. Marlon Vargas was charged with robbery, aggravated assault and possession of stolen property, according to police.
Bail was set at $50,000 for each suspect with no 10 percent option. The two men were transported to the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center in North Brunswick.
— Kathy Chang