EDISON — Two 19-year-old men were charged with robbing an AT&T Spring Mobile store at gunpoint last week.
Yousef Mohammed Ijbara, of New York, and Mahdi L. Shalanbi, of Paterson, were charged with robbery, aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a weapon, according to Edison Police Lt. Robert Dudash.
The armed robbery occurred at 7:42 p.m. on Jan. 10 at the store, located at 894 Route 1 in Edison.
The victim/store manager, a 33-year-old male from Colonia, told police he was approached by the two suspects wearing ski masks in the lobby of the store and was reportedly ordered to the ground, according to Dudash.
Ijbara allegedly brandished a handgun while Shalanbi was allegedly wielding a baseball bat.
The two individuals then allegedly stole multiple phones, I-Phones and other electronic devices and fled in a light colored four-door sedan, heading on Route 1 north.
Edison officers reportedly observed a possible suspect vehicle matching the description of the suspect vehicle on the Garden State Parkway heading north.
The Edison officers and detectives reportedly attempted a motor vehicle stop of the vehicle near exit 153B, according to Dudash; however, the vehicle allegedly fled the scene by exiting the Garden State Parkway onto Route 3.
The vehicle was located again and detained by Clifton police on Stevens Road in Clifton, according to Dudash. Edison officers and detectives responded to the scene of the motor vehicle stop and took custody of both men, according to Dudash.
Both suspects were transported to Edison Police Headquarters for processing and were subsequently charged, police said.
The vehicle, a white 2017 Ford Fusion Hybrid Sedan, was impounded and later searched following the acquisition of a search warrant, which reportedly revealed multiple stolen items from the robbery, the ski masks, an aluminum baseball bat, and a realistic looking pellet handgun found in the center console of the vehicle, according to Dudash.
Ijbara and Shalanbi were transported to the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center in North Brunswick.
Anyone with information should contact Dudash at 732-248-6442 or rdudash@edisonpd.org.
