Police Find Car Used in BP Robbery, Connect Suspect to Other Gas Station Thefts

More information has come to light about the armed robbery at the .

Springfield police have recovered the stolen vehicle used in the robbery, and have connected the culprit to a series of nearby gas station robberies.

Following the robbery, the culprit fled the gas station towards the Vauxhall section of Union.  After investigating the BP station, Springfield police followed the robber down Springfield Avenue into Vauxhall to search for the white Jeep Cherokee used by the suspect.

While Springfield police were following the trail, there was the second armed robbery at the BP gas station in Union at Vauxhall Road and Springfield Avenue. The Springfield police officers found the Jeep on Tower Street in Vauxhall, abandoned with its motor running, headlights on and driver door open. Police from Springfield and Union searched the area along with the Union County Sheriff's K-9 Unit, but failed to locate the suspect.

The Jeep is currently being processed for forensic evidence. Police have determined it was stolen from the Mall At Short Hills. Springfield Detective Sgt. Judd Levenson said the car was stolen specifically for use in the robbery and that evidence suggests two people were involved in the auto theft.

“The Jeep was stolen just to commit the robberies, driven from the mall to the gas station in Springfield, then to Union and quickly abandoned where the suspect most likely fled in a second unknown (and unseen) vehicle that was driven by a second accomplice,” Levenson said.

Police believe the man behind the Springfield and Union armed robberies also committed at least a dozen similar gas station robberies in Union and Essex counties since mid May of this year.