JERSEY CITY, N.J. (1010 WINS) — A man who is accused of robbing the same Jersey City deli three times in six days this month is facing a number of charges after authorities said he was arrested during a fourth robbery attempt last week.
The suspect made away with $10 worth of cigars during the first robbery on Jan. 10, $20 in cash from the second robbery on Jan. 15 and $180 in his third attack on Jan. 16, police said.
During the first two robberies, 77-year-old owner of the store, Augie Lopez, was allegedly assaulted when the suspect pushed him, causing Lopez to fall and suffer deep bruises. The third time the assailant attacked, it was Lopez’s wife, Nilda Maldonado, who was allegedly assaulted when the robber violently shoved her as he forced his way behind the counter to get to empty the cash register.
Lopez, who undergoes dialysis treatments and has use of only one arm and trouble walking, has run the Old Bergen Avenue store for 32 years.
The attacker allegedly tried for a fourth time on Jan. 21 to rob the deli in a similar manner as the last three times, by jumping the counter to get to the cash register. This time, an off-duty police officer was in the back checking in on the store when he saw the incident and went after the man, police said.
The robber tried to flee the store but didn’t make it very far. He was arrested right outside of the deli by the off-duty officer and Lopez’s son, Agustin Lopez Jr., who is also a Jersey City police officer. Lopez’s son broke his ankle making the arrest.
Lopez told The Jersey Journal that he feels much safer now that the robber was caught.
The suspect was identified as 34-year-old Travis Nealey. He was charged with four counts of strong arm robbery and one count resisting arrest, said Jersey City spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione. Nealey is currently at the Hudson County jail. His first court appearance was Tuesday and he is scheduled for a detention hearing on Friday.
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