Somerset County officials, announced the arrests of Abufurgan Ahmad, 54, of Newark, in relation to two separate gas station burglaries that occurred on Thursday, April 15, and on Sunday, May 9, both in the area of Route 22 in North Plainfield and the arrest of Coleman Holden, 51, of East Orange, in relation to the May 9, gas station burglary.
Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson stated that on Thursday, April 15, at approximately 6:23 a.m., North Plainfield Police Department responded to a 9-1-1 call reporting a burglary of a gas station located on Route 22.
According to police, detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office and North Plainfield Police Department responded to investigate.
The investigation revealed that the suspect forcibly opened the door to the office and stole an undisclosed amount in cash, a case of black and mild cigars and jumper cables while causing approximately $10,000.00 worth of damage to the office during the burglary.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that on Sunday, May 9, 2020, at approximately 10:06 a.m., North Plainfield Police responded to a 9-1-1 call reporting a burglary of a gas station located on Route 22 in North Plainfield.
According to police, detectives from the North Plainfield Police Department responded to investigate.
The investigation revealed that the suspect forcibly pried open a glass door causing the glass to break to gain entry to the convenience store portion of the gas station.
The suspect stole an undisclosed amount of cash, over $800.00 worth of lottery tickets and over $400.00 of Newport cigarettes while damaging the door, a shelf and the ATM machine while attempting to pry it open. A second suspect was also present for the burglary.
The investigation also revealed that during the burglary, the second suspect entered the garage area and stole a backpack leaf blower from the garage.
Detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and North Plainfield Police Department conducted investigations into both burglaries. As a result of this investigation, Mr. Abufurqan Ahmad was identified as the individual involved in both the burglary that occurred on April 15, as well as the burglary that occurred on May 9.
According to police, Mr. Coleman Holden was identified as the second suspect in the May 9, burglary. On May 17, Defendant Ahmad and Defendant Holden were taken into custody in Newark by Detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the North Plainfield Police Department without incident.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that defendant Ahmad has been charged with two counts of 3rd-degree Burglary, two counts of 3rd-degree Theft by Unlawful Taking and two counts of Criminal Mischief, a disorderly person’s offense. Defendant Ahmad was lodged at the Somerset County Jail pending a bail detention hearing in this matter.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that defendant Holden has been charged with 3rd-degree Burglary and 3rd-degree Theft by Unlawful Taking. Defendant Holden was lodged at the Somerset County Jail pending a bail detention hearing in this matter.
Prosecutor Robertson, Chief Fodor and Chief Parenti request anyone with information relating to the burglaries to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit at (908) 231-7100 or the North Plainfield Police Department at (908) 769-2937.
Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477).
All anonymous Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.