Karl M. Bavos, 29, of Flemington, was charged in connection with several gas station thefts that happened on Jan. 23 and Jan. 24, 2017, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said.
SOMERVILLE - A 29-year-old Central Jersey man was charged in connection with several gas station thefts that happened on Monday and Tuesday, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson confirmed Wednesday.
Karl M. BavosKarl M. Bavos, 29, of Flemington, was arrested at 11:15 a.m. on Tuesday just hours after he reportedly attempted his third theft.
A Bound Brook officer saw him parked in a blue Volvo on Fisher Avenue in that borough, according to the prosecutor's office. Police had been looking for the vehicle as surveillance footage showed in had been used in the attempted theft, it was stated in the release.
Bavos was charged with third-degree theft by unlawful taking and third-degree criminal attempt, it was stated in a news release. He is being held in the Somerset County Jail without bail pending a hearing.
Robertson said Bridgewater police were called to the Speedway Service Station on westbound Route 22 for an attempted theft at 8:17 a.m. on Tuesday.
A station attendant said a man, later identified as Bavos, pulled into the station and asked him for change, according to the news release. When the attendant pulled money from his pocket, Bavos allegedly attempted to grab it, but was not successful and drove away, it was stated.
Police used surveillance footage to identify Bavos and his vehicle.
N.J. man charged after using pickup truck
The other two thefts happened on Monday evening.
A man allegedly took money out of a cash register after he walked into the gas attendant's booth at a BP Service Station on West Union Avenue in Bound Brook at 9:04 p.m. and asked to buy a cigar, it was stated in the release. The attendant said the suspect was driving a dark-colored vehicle and was able to give police a partial plate.
The second theft happened at the Valero Service Station on eastbound Route 22 in Bridgewater at 11:43 p.m. A similar vehicle pulled up to a pump and the driver asked to buy gas and cigarettes. As the attendant was getting the cigarettes, the man followed him, reached into his pocket and took an unknown amount of money before running back to his vehicle and fleeing, according to the news release.
Bavos' arrest was jointly announced by Robertson, Somerset County Chief of County Detectives John W. Fodor, Bridgewater Township Chief of Police Al Nicaretta and Bound Brook Borough Chief of Police Michael Jannone.
In December, Bavos, then living in Manville, was arrested by Raritan Township police in Hunterdon County and charged with theft of moveable property after he reportedly used his employers 1999 Chevrolet pickup truck for personal use, it was previously reported.