Crime & Safety

Police: Man Invented Robbery as an Excuse for Strip Club Visit

Elmwood Park man reportedly told worried his wife he was robbed to explain why he was late getting home.

How hard is it to say “honey, I’m sorry I was late. I got lost driving home from the strip club”?

Springfield police say an Elmwood Park man found it so hard to say that he got arrested.

Police say officers responded to a 911 call reporting a robbery at the General Green Shopping Center on Morris Ave. at 10:43 on Friday, July 1. There, they found 39-year-old Eric Lau, who reportedly told police he had been the victim of an armed robbery.

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Lau reportedly told police he had gotten lost on Route 78 while trying to drive from Newark to his Elmwood Park home, and pulled into the shopping center parking lot, where he was and approached by two men standing by a car. He said that after, he asked for directions, the men took his wallet and money at gunpoint.

Speaking with Lau, Sergeant William Cieri thought the story didn’t add up.  He thought it was odd Lau would have passed by several 24-hour convenience stores and gas stations before deciding to park in the dark lot of a closed. Cieri also noted it was unlikely that Lau would be robbed by the only persons in the lot. He also found it strange that would still have his driver license and cell phone after getting robbed.

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After speaking with Lau further, Springfield police unearthed a different story about how Lau ended up in that lot and on his phone.

Police say Lau had been at a go-go bar in Newark and became lost while going home, eventually winding up in Springfield. His wife became worried he was late, and repeatedly called him, reportedly prompting Lau to explain his lateness by his telling her he had been robbed at gunpoint in Springfield. She offered to call 911 for him. Lau instead said he’d do, it, and called the Springfield Police some 20 minutes after the supposed robbery had taken place.

Lau was arrested by Officer John Patrick and was charged with False Reports to Law Enforcement for falsely reporting being the victim of an armed robbery. He was released with an initial court appearance date in the Springfield Municipal Court on Monday, July 11.

No matter what the outcome, he might either want to stay clear of go go bars in the future or invest in a GPS. 


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