Crime & Safety

Cinnaminson Suspects Charged With Armed Robbery of Town Liquor Store in Florence

Charles Richards and Elizabeth Albertson were charged with an additional robbery. They and Bryan Hawthorne have been charged with a string of robberies in Burlington and Camden counties over the last week.

Elizabeth A. Albertson, 28, and Charles Richards, 28, were charged with armed robbery and conspiracy in the holdup of the Town Liquor Store on Route 130 in Florence on Jan. 27, Burlington County Prosecutor Robert D. Bernardi and Florence Police Chief Alvin Scully announced on Friday.

Richards was also charged with possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and another weapons offense that prohibits convicted felons from having firearms.

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Richards and Albertson are already in prison, along with Bryan Hawthorne, 26, for a string of armed robberies in Camden and Burlington counties.

Bail for Richards has been set at $450,000, while Albertson’s is $325,000.

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Hawthorne’s bail is $325,000.

Officials allege Richards entered the store at 6:45 p.m., went behind the counter, pointed a handgun at the owner and the employee and demanded money. After the owner and the employee stepped away from the counter, Richards allegedly took money from the register and fled in a vehicle Alberston was driving.

Previously, all three were charged in connection with the robbery of a 7-11 in Mount Laurel on Jan. 16; the robbery of a Food Mart in Delran on Jan. 26; The Wine Nova Store in Stratford on Feb. 2; Pike Liquors in Lindenwold on Feb. 4; Richards Liquors in Gloucester Township on Feb. 4; the January 14 armed robbery of the Sunoco gas station; the January 21 of the Country Farms convenience store; and the Jan. 19 robbery of a Country Farms convenience store in Hainesport.

Hawthorne and Richards were also charged conspiracy to commit armed robbery and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose in connection with a plot to rob a liquor store in Florence.

Richards and Albertson were charged in connection with the robbery of The Liquor Mill in Magnolia on Jan 13.

An investigation revealed the defendants used proceeds from the robberies to buy heroin in Camden, officials said.

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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