Princeton Borough Police Blotter: Attempted Robbery at Zorba’s, BMW Stolen, Two More Attempted Car Thefts

large_ext_2At about 10:20 p.m. Saturday night, a man allegedly entered Zorba’s Brother at 80 Nassau Street, just after the restaurant closed, and told an employee, “Put your hands up. This is a stick up.” The man did not pull out a weapon or threaten to use a weapon. The restaurant employee allegedly ran toward the man and shoved him out the door onto the sidewalk. The man fled eastbound on Nassau Street. The incident is under investigation. The suspect is described as a dark male, 35 to 40 years old, between 5′ and 5’9″ tall, medium build. He was wearing a dark leather jacket and dark colored pants.

Just after 10 p.m. Saturday night an elderly man was seen on the sidewalk near 174 Nassau Street attempting to force open the coin box of a metal newspaper stand with a screwdriver. Joseph Silbert, 74, of Trenton was charged with criminal mischief. His court hearing is scheduled for Jan. 7.

A 2007 BMW was stolen from Cameron Court and a thief also attempted to steal two other cars in Princeton between Dec 10 and Dec. 11. The BMW was locked and unattended. The other two motor vehicle theft attempts were on North Stanworth Drive. The vehicles were locked and the door locks were punched out, but the thieves were unsuccessful. A fourth unlocked vehicle was entered during the same time period on South Stanworth Drive and a portable GPS unit was taken.  Currently all of the incidents are being investigated as being connected, Princeton Borough Police Captain Nick Sutter said.

Police made an arrest Dec. 12 in a gift card theft case that dates back to September. Kali Williams, 23, of Trenton was charged with theft by deception for allegedly using stolen gift cards to buy $2,645 with of merchandise at Hamilton Jewelers in September.

On December 8 a driver failed to keep right on Nassau Street just before 2 a.m. After the motor vehicle stop, police arrested Phillip Schaeffer of Plainsboro for driving while intoxicated.