At approximately 1:15 PM on Wednesday afternoon, Lakewood Shomrim received a call from a parent reporting that his child had been verbally threatened by several teenagers who demanded his bike near Vine Street and Essex Avenue. Fearing for his safety, the child handed over the bike to the group.
Shomrim members immediately responded to the scene and began canvassing the area. They soon located the suspects heading from the 7/11 on River Avenue toward Prospect Street. Shomrim units followed the individuals as they joined a larger group of teenagers at the High Point Condominium Complex on Prospect Street.
As Shomrim continued to monitor the situation, the perpetrators eventually left the complex, dropping the stolen bike nearby. Shomrim members secured the bike while also keeping watch over the group. Shortly after, an unrelated incident involving a knife occurred among the larger group at High Point, prompting a significant response from Lakewood police officers. Several individuals were apprehended by the police as a result of this incident.
The original suspect who stole the bike fled the and was last seen near Martin Luther King Jr. Street and John Street. Fortunately, the stolen bike has since been returned to its rightful owner.
Lakewood Shomrim is grateful for the collaborative work with the Lakewood Police Department and commends their swift action in responding to the situation.
Shomrim encourages the residents to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activities immediately to our hotline 732-367-1212.