NEWARK (1010 WINS) -- Police are searching for a man who allegedly tried to rob a restaurant in Newark using the Google Translate app.
Newark police released images of the masked suspect Thursday in the robbery at an Ecuadorian restaurant on South Street on the morning of Feb. 20.
According to police, the suspect entered just before 8 a.m. and ordered a cup of coffee before using the app to announce the robbery, translating from English to Spanish.
He also used the translator to threaten to shoot a cashier if she didn’t open the register, police said.
When she ran from the register, he allegedly tried to remove it but was unable to and instead threw his coffee at her and fled the scene.
According to the restaurant owner, the use of the translator was pointless—workers at the restaurant speak English.
Anyone with information is asked to call Newark’s Crime Stopper tip line at 1-877-NWK-TIPS (1-877-695-8477).