Camera dooms arcade robber
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, April 2, 2003
The Big Bee Game Room in Linden was robbed Saturday evening, said Linden Public Safety Director Jeff Laduron.
An attendant sits in the office watching all the games on a video camera. There is just "a little peep hole door cut into the main door," Laduron said.
At approximately 6:30 p.m. Saturday a black female knocked on the door. "When he opened it, she stuck a gun in on him," he said. "He (the attendant) tried to close the door. You can see her on the videotape pushing the door open.
Officer Aaron Malone recognized the suspect from the videotape, Laduron said. "Within 45 minutes, we had her in custody." She was interviewed at the Linden police station. "It took a little while, but I finally got her to confess," he said.
The suspect was identified as Jacqueline Howard Tate, 37, of 912 Gardner Street in Linden, and she was charged with robbery, first degree.
The majority of the officers from the Linden police force responded to the call Saturday evening. "They did an outstanding job," he said.
Did she know she was being videotaped? "I think she knew it; she looked right up at the camera."
With Saturday’s incident, both game rooms in Linden have been robbed once. Laduron said the case is still open on the other robbery several months ago.