Motorcycle helmet fends off robber’s knife
By Charles W. Kim, Packet Media Group
SOUTH BRUNSWICK — A customer at a local restaurant fended off a knife-wielding robber with his motorcycle helmet Tuesday afternoon.
Police said the incident was reported Tuesday at 3 p.m. at the Kapadokya Mediterranean Grill on Route 1 in Monmouth Junction.
The cashier told police that the suspect came into the restaurant with a black or blue hooded sweatshirt pulled over his face, and had his right hand in a black drawstring bag and demanded money, police said.
The cashier then went into the kitchen to alert other employees of the robbery.
A customer in the restaurant, identified as a 64-year-old man from Garfield, then stood up and confronted the suspect demanding that he leave the business.
The two men exchanged words, leading to a dangerous confrontation where the customer used his motorcycle helmet to fend off the suspect.
The suspect, described by police as a light-skinned male possibly Hispanic, 6’02" tall with a bald or shaved head and a thin beard, then left the restaurant without getting any money, police said.
He fled south into the woods outside the restaurant, police said.
Officers and K-9 units scoured the woods into the evening but were not able to locate the suspect.
South Brunswick Police are now looking for the public’s help in identifying the man.
On Wednesday, police are released a video from the restaurant that shows the armed suspect attempting to rob the restaurant and being confronted by the customer.
In the video, the customer struggles with the suspect who eventually leaves without any money.
Lt. Jim Ryan said Wednesday that while police appreciate the customer’s actions, the best bet for anyone in that situation is to get to a safe location and call police.
"We wouldn’t advise getting into a confrontation," Lt. Ryan said. "Safety of the people is our main concern. We can sort out stolen property later. It’s not worth the risk."
Lt. Ryan said police were at the scene within two minutes and that such a brazen, strong-armed robbery attempt like this is very rare in the community.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call South Brunswick Police at (732) 329-4646.