UPDATE (7/26): NBPD announced that it identified and arrested three suspects in this case, including the two men who allegedly robbed the victim and “the driver of the getaway vehicle.”

Dauri Cabrera, a 19-year-old man from New Brunswick, was arrested over the weekend of July 23 and charged with armed robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

That same weekend, two 21-year-old men were arrested and charged with armed robbery and conspiracy to commit armed robbery: Michael Yensi, of New Brunswick and Vincent Paley, of Old Bridge.  It’s not clear which was the alleged driver and which allegedly did the robbery.

According to the NBPD statement, the victim was robbed of a cellphone.

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—City police are investigating a robbery at knifepoint where a Rutgers-affiliated man was victimized at about 10:27 PM on July 18 near the corner of Hamilton and Division Streets, according to a university crime alert.

The knifepoint robbery was the second such robbery attempted against a Rutgers student in the span of just seven minutes, according to a university crime alert and a CBS New York report.

“In this incident the victim… reported that he was approached by two male perpetrators, one of whom brandished a knife while the other removed an item of value from his pocket,” read the alert, which also said the perpetrators hopped in a “nearby vehicle” and fled along Hamilton Street towards Louis Street.

According to the alert, one of the perpetrators was described as “a male of Hispanic descent with a light skinned complexion, approximately 5’5” in height, with a heavy build, short black hair, and wearing a brown shirt with dark colored shorts,” while the other was reportedly “a black male, approximately 6’1” in height, with a medium build, short black hair, wearing a dark colored t-shirt and shorts.”

The crime came minutes after a Rutgers woman was pushed to the ground on the other side of the city, after she refused to comply with a robber, who was also armed with a knife.

Both robberies, and an unrelated burglary, were featured in a rare triple crime alert sent to the university community by Rutgers University Police Department (RUPD) the following evening.

The RUPD also took the latest crime alert as an opportunity to reminds residents that they can “reduce [the] chances of being a crime victim by taking reasonable precautions,” such as:

– Walking in groups when traveling during late night hours;
– Remain alert and aware of people and circumstances around you;
– Avoid isolated or dark areas;
– Secure points of entry to buildings and all work spaces when not in use;
– Do not prop open exterior doors;
– Immediately report suspicious activity to local law enforcement.

“The Rutgers University Police Department provides escorts to students, faculty, and staff upon request,” reads the crime alert, which an asks individuals to “contact the police communications center at 732-932-7211” to make arrangements.

The NBPD asks that anyone with information about the robberies, or who may have been in the areas where they occurred at the time they occurred, contact their Detective Bureau at 732-745-5217.

Editor at New Brunswick Today | 732-993-9697 | editor@newbrunswicktoday.com | Website

Charlie is the founder and editor of New Brunswick Today, and the winner of the Awbrey Award for Community-Oriented Local Journalism. He is a proud Rutgers University journalism graduate, a community organizer, and a former independent candidate for mayor of New Brunswick.

Charlie is the founder and editor of New Brunswick Today, and the winner of the Awbrey Award for Community-Oriented Local Journalism. He is a proud Rutgers University journalism graduate, a community organizer, and a former independent candidate for mayor of New Brunswick.