By: Richard L. Smith
A Lodi woman has been charged and two 17-year-old males have been arrested following an investigation into an armed robbery involving the theft of a gaming computer that was being sold through social media.
According to the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, the incident occurred on March 17, 2026, in the area of Church Street and Boyd Street in Lodi.
Authorities said the victim had arranged to sell a gaming computer and met with two individuals while seated inside a vehicle.
During the encounter, one suspect allegedly opened the rear driver-side door and took the computer.
When the victim exited the vehicle, the second suspect reportedly pointed a handgun at the victim before both suspects fled on foot with the stolen item.
A joint investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad and the Lodi Police Department led detectives to identify two juvenile suspects.
One of the teens was taken into custody on April 21 and charged with armed robbery, weapons offenses, and burglary-related charges before being released to a parent.
The second juvenile was arrested on June 11. Prosecutors said a court-authorized search of his residence resulted in the recovery of a handgun and two large-capacity ammunition magazines.
He was charged with armed robbery and several weapons-related offenses and remains in juvenile detention pending further court action.
Investigators also determined that 39-year-old Maria Montoya allegedly assisted one of the suspects in avoiding arrest by providing transportation and other aid following the robbery.
Montoya was arrested on June 15 and charged with hindering the apprehension of another.
She was released pending a future court appearance.