Cranford Suspects Charged In Another Robbery, Burglary

An adult and two juveniles suspected in robberies in Cranford and Westfield were charged with luring, assaulting and robbing another Cranford juvenile.

Samuel Cavanaugh, 18, of Cranford, and two 17-year-old co-defendants also from Cranford were charged Tuesday with allegedly luring a 16-year-old Cranford male to the grounds of Orange Avenue School, assaulting and robbing him on December 17. A cell phone, electronic audio player and watch were taken, according to the Cranford Police Department. The victim knew his attackers.

The suspects were also charged in connection with a January 1 burglary and theft of a bag of gold jewelry valued at $300 that occurred in a residential neighborhood off of Centennial Avenue. Cavanaugh was charged with another theft of over $7,000 worth of gold and diamond jewelry from a Hampton Road resident.

All three suspects had already been charged in two other assaults and robberies in Cranford and Westfield.

They allegedly assaulted and robbed another Cranford juvenile near Hampton Park on January 2 and a man walking along a path connecting the South Avenue traffic circle to the south side of the Westfield train station on December 17.

The January 2 incident was reported to have taken place near Hampton Park at 8:38 p.m, according to the Cranford Police Department. Police reports say three males approached the 16-year-old Cranford resident from behind in a light colored or white vehicle, then physically assaulted the victim and stole the victim's belongings. The victim fled the scene on foot and contacted police. He was treated by the Cranford First Aid Squad and transported to a local emergency room for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

An 18-year-old Cranford male and two 17-year-old Cranford males were spotted by police in a silver Hyundai at Springfield Avenue and Hampton Road. They were arrested by Cranford officers John Rattigan and Eugene Perrotta as suspects in the robbery.

Cavanaugh is being held in the Union County Jail in lieu of $25,000.00 bail on the robbery charge, with an arraignment set for Friday. Bail was set on Cavanaugh at $7,500.00 on the burglary charge. Both juveniles are in the Union County Juvenile Detention Center awaiting a hearing date in Juvenile Court.