Story from Independent Online News

 22-September-2026

𝗦𝗺𝗮𝘀𝗵-𝗔𝗻𝗱-𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗯 𝗥𝗼𝗯𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗹𝗲𝗲𝘀 𝗥𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗦𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗲𝘀

𝐁𝐲 𝐉𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐃𝐞𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐨 (𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬)

A smash-and-grab robber fled with a half-dozen or so Rolexes from the Bloomingdale's in Riverside Square after breaking a display case with repeated blows of a hammer that sounded like gunshots, law enforcement sources said.

The robber was wearing a green Nike sweatsuit with the hood up and gloves when he entered the store around 11:45 a.m. today (Tues., Sept. 22nd),

"He walked in, went directly to the watches and hit the case multiple times with a hammer," an investigator told Independent Online News. "People said it sounded like shots fired."

The five blows of the hammer ignited panic and fear among many shoppers, employees and others.

Multiple shots-fired calls brought a massive law enforcement response and forced an evacuation of the mall.

Responders included city police, New Jersey State Police, Bergen County sheriff's officers, the Bergen County Regional SWAT team and officers from River Edge and New Milford, among other area towns.

They initially focused on two roofers -- and sent at least one drone -- after receiving a false report that the robber had gone to the roof.

He actually "reached in, grabbed the watches and headed toward the Avalon apartments," the investigator said.

Hackensack police confirmed the robbery and said no injuries were reported.

Everyone was allowed to return to the mall shortly before 1 p.m.

𝗔𝗡𝗬𝗢𝗡𝗘 who might have seen, can identify or knows where to find the robber is asked to immediately call Hackensack police: (𝟮𝟬𝟭-𝟲𝟰𝟲-𝟳𝟳𝟳𝟳). Or your local police department.

𝗣𝗛𝗢𝗧𝗢𝗦: 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗕𝘆𝗥𝗶𝗰𝗸𝘆, 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀𝟭𝟮𝗡𝗝, 𝗝𝗲𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗗𝗲𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗼

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