Police: Man Called Home Before Robbery Attempt

Police say an Independence Township man called home from the gas station he was allegedly attempting to rob on Saturday night, giving officers an easy target to find.

Matthew Davis, 20, allegedly asked a BP gas station attendant on Route 517 in Hackettstown to use the phone, after he said his car broke down on a nearby road, Hackettstown Police Det. Darren Tynan said.

When the attendant went back into the service booth to help other customers, Davis allegedly approached him with his hand under his sweatshirt, stating several times, “This is a robbery, give me the money,” Tynan said.

The attendant told police he repeatedly said, “I don’t understand” to Davis, and then took the phone back from the 20-year-old, Tynan said.

At that point, Davis allegedly told the gas station attendant he was going to get pizza, and left the station, Tynan said. When police arrived, they conducted a reverse search of the phone number allegedly called by Davis, which led to the Independence Township man’s residence.

Davis was arrested and charged with criminal attempt and robbery. He was lodged in the Warren County Correctional Facility in lieu of $25,000 bail.

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