LAWRENCE — A 47-year-old Trenton man has been charged with carjacking and other offenses in connection with the carjacking of a 77-year-old woman that occurred Monday afternoon in the parking lot at the Lawrence Shopping Center, according to the Lawrence Township Police Department.
Robert McClain, 47, of Trenton, was arrested Tuesday night as he was about to get into the stolen car while it was parked at the Avalon Bay rental apartment complex, police said. He was also charged with receiving stolen property and theft.
Bail has not yet been set.
Police had been searching for the 2013 Kia Rio since the incident was reported around 3:30 p.m. Monday. On Tuesday, Sgt. James Smith saw a car that matched the description of the stolen vehicle in the parking lot at the Avalon Bay apartment complex, police said.
After confirming that it was the stolen car, police set up surveillance and watched the car. Several hours later, Mr. McClain was observed walking up to the car and preparing to get into it. He was taken into custody by Sgt. Smith, Officer Ryan Dunn and Detective Sgt. Joseph Lech IV.
Mr. McClain had the victim’s car keys in his possession when he was arrested shortly before 9 p.m. Tuesday, police said. He was also found to have a white plastic bag in his possession that contained the victim’s handbag.
The incident began Monday afternoon as the 77-year-old woman finished loading groceries into her car in the parking lot outside the Acme grocery store at the Lawrence Shopping Center, police said. She was sitting in her car when she was approached by a man, later identified as Mr. McClain.
The carjacker leaned into the car and demanded the keys, police said. When she refused to give him the keys to the silver 2013 Kia Rio sedan, he grabbed her by both wrists and yanked her out of the car. She received minor injuries to both of her hands, wrists and knee.
After pulling her out of the car, the man got into the car and drove off in an unknown direction. Police searched the area, but could not find the car or the suspect. The victim provided police with a description of the carjacker.
