Towns coordinate in investigation
By Charles W. Kim, Managing Editor
SOUTH BRUNSWICK — Police have arrested two men they believe may be responsible for as many as five gas station robberies in two counties during the past eight days.
Police charged Joseph Pulos, Jr., 26, of North Brunswick and Bruce Barabato, 27, of South Brunswick with armed robbery and possession of a weapon in connection with two robberies and further charges are expected, police said.
The arrests followed the most recent robbery Monday afternoon at the Valero Gas Station on Route 130 in South Brunswick. At 4:15 p.m., according to police.
South Brunswick Police received a 911 call reporting two men had just held up the gas station at knifepoint, according to a press release from the department.
One of the attendants was able to observe the suspects flee in a green Ford Explorer north on Route 130.
The incident matched similar robberies over the past week, police said.
As South Brunswick officers were responding to the gas station, dispatchers alerted North Brunswick Police of the robbery.
Within minutes a North Brunswick officer observed a green Ford Explorer in the Gulf Gas Station on Route 130, police said.
The North Brunswick officers approached the two occupants of the Explorer and observed a large sum of cash, a folding knife and some syringes, police said.
Detectives from North Brunswick and South Brunswick conducted a search of the vehicle and recovered items linking the suspects to the gas station robberies.
Detectives believe the suspects are responsible for five gas station robberies in Middlesex and Somerset County over the past eight days, according to the release.
In each case the suspects would approach the gas attendant on foot and demand money while displaying a knife.
The men are charged with two robberies in South Brunswick and one in North Brunswick, additional charges are expected, police said.
Both are lodged in the Middlesex County Correction Adult Correction Center in North Brunswick on $375,000 bail, police said.
Chief Raymond Hayducka credited the partnership between the two police departments with putting a stop to the crimes.
"The suspects may have believed by moving around to different towns they could avoid apprehension. Our partnership with other police agencies allowed for quick actions to stop their crime spree," said Chief Hayducka.

