Crime & Safety

Cinnaminson Residents Charged in Burlington County Convenience Store Burglaries

The three were charged in connection with the robberies of a Mount Laurel 7-11 and Delran Food Mart in January.

Three Cinnaminson residents have been charged in a pair of Burlington County convenience store robberies that took place last month, Burlington County Prosecutor Robert D. Bernardi, Delran Police Chief Alfonso Parente, Jr., Florence Police Chief Alvin Scully and Mount Laurel Police Chief Dennis Cribben announced Monday afternoon.

Two of the three were also charged in connection with a plot to commit a third robbery.

Elizabeth A. Albertson, 28, Charles Richards, 28, and Brian Hawthorne, 26, were all charged with armed robbery and conspiracy for the Jan. 16 robbery of a 7-11 on Route 73 in Mount Laurel.

All three were also charged with armed robbery, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a weapon for the Jan. 26 robbery of Food Mart on Route 130 in Delran.

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Hawthorne and Richards were lodged in Burlington County Jail in Mount Holly. Bail was set for Richards at $350,000 following his first appearance on Monday. Albertson was placed in the Correction Work Release Center in Pemberton Township.

Florence Police arrested Hawthorne and Richards on Feb. 7 after a citizen reported a suspicious vehicle parked in the area of Wallace Avenue and Seventh Street.

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Police searched the vehicle and discovered a ski mask, a handgun and a small amount of suspected heroin.

Police determined Hawthorne and Richards were preparing to rob a liquor store in Florence when they were apprehended. They were charged with conspiracy to commit armed robbery and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

Richards was also charged with certain persons not to have weapons.

A further investigation determined that Albertson, who lives with Richards on Kelso Lane, was also involved in the robberies.

“Investigators were greatly assisted in this case by an alert citizen who recognized that something was not quite right and took the time to call Florence police,” Bernardi said. “This type of help is extremely valuable to law enforcement and I encourage all members of the public to call their police departments when they suspect illegal activity is occurring.”

Agencies working together to investigate the recent string of armed robberies include the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office, Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, Cinnaminson Police Department, Delran Police Department, Florence Police Department, Gloucester Township Police Department, Lindenwold Police Department, Lumberton Police Department, Magnolia Police Department, Maple Shade Police Department, Moorestown Police Department, Mount Laurel Police Department, New Jersey State Police, Palmyra Police Department, Pennsauken Police Department and Stratford Police Department.

 

 


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