Two people trying to sell an iPhone and an expensive watch through an online marketplace were instead robbed at gunpoint in Paterson, according to authorities. A juvenile suspect has now been arrested and charged in connection with both stickups, which occurred on Sept. 21, 2026, near the same corner.
How the Robberies Unfolded
Both armed robberies occurred near Seventh Avenue and East 26th Street on Sept. 21, 2026, after victims arranged to meet a prospective buyer, Paterson police said, as reported by Daily Voice. In both incidents, the suspect pulled out a handgun and then fled with the items the victims had brought to sell. No further details on the sequence of the two encounters have been released.
The Paterson Police Department's Juvenile Unit, which operates within the department's Investigative Services Bureau to investigate delinquent acts and felony offenses involving underage suspects, according to the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, identified a juvenile suspect in the case. That suspect was arrested on Oct. 14 and charged with three counts of robbery and multiple weapons offenses, the department's report notes.
Police Leadership Pushes Safer Transactions
Patrick Murray, who has served as Officer in Charge of the Paterson Police Department since November 2024 after nearly 40 years with the force, including prior leadership of its Ceasefire Unit, said steps are being taken to help residents conduct online transactions safely. Murray added that those who rob or threaten others during online meetups will be pursued and held accountable, per the same account from the attorney general's office.
To that end, Paterson police headquarters at 111 Broadway houses a designated Internet Purchase Exchange Location, a well-lit spot in the front plaza monitored by surveillance cameras around the clock, according to the attorney general's office. Police are encouraging residents to use the exchange location for online sales, to bring someone along when possible, to avoid sharing personal information, and to avoid sending money before verifying transaction details.
Paterson's setup mirrors a trend playing out across the state. Warren Township has a similar Internet Purchase Safe Zone within its Municipal Complex, just steps from the police department, according to the Warren Township program. Some police guidance also cautions against secluded meetup locations and last-minute changes.
Legal Stakes for the Teen Suspect
Under New Jersey law, robbery is elevated from a second-degree crime to a first-degree felony — punishable by 10 to 20 years in state prison — when a perpetrator uses or threatens a deadly weapon such as a handgun, per Justia Law. Separately, state statute allows prosecutors to petition Family Court to waive a juvenile aged 15 or older into adult criminal court if probable cause exists that the youth committed a first-degree offense like armed robbery, though no such petition has been reported in this case. The Passaic County Prosecutor's Office is prosecuting the case, according to Daily Voice's report.
Part of a Broader Decline in Robberies
The arrest comes as Paterson has posted significant drops in robbery complaints this year. The Jersey Vindicator reported robberies fell 40% through Aug. 30, 2026, as part of a broader citywide decline in violent crime.
The department has operated under direct oversight from the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General since March 2023, when the state took control following the fatal police shooting of Najee Seabrooks, according to background compiled on Wikipedia. The department's Juvenile Unit identified the suspect in this case.
