HOBOKEN — A man who allegedly attacked and tried to rob a woman on Willow Street in late December was finally apprehended on Monday after a Hoboken Public Library staffer told police he had allegedly stolen XBox games from them, and was allegedly in the process of doing so again, a police report said.
Brian Jimenez, 34, whose addressed was listed by police as a Jersey City homeless shelter, was charged with robbery, unlawful possession of a weapon, making terroristic threats, and theft of library services.
On Dec. 27 around 11:45 p.m., police responded to reports of a woman being robbed at gunpoint near a Willow Avenue liquor store.
According to the report, Jimenez allegedly approached a woman from behind at the store on Willow Avenue, threw a coat over her head, and told her that if she didn’t hand over her money, he would rape her. When the woman said she had no money, Jimenez allegedly poked a gun in her back and threatened to kill her, the report said.
The woman then apparently offered to use her ATM card at the nearby liquor store to withdraw money for Jimenez, but when they arrived minutes later, she told the store employee to call police, the report said. When this occurred, Jimenez took off, unsuccessfully pursued by one of the store’s patrons.
Days later, police responded to a report from a library employee who said a man that had been observed stealing video games three times since the new year was currently committing another theft. Jimenez, whose appearance matched that of the man caught on library surveillance tapes, was found with a bag full of video games and arrested on the second floor of the library, according to a separate report.
That’s where some sharp detective work came in.
While Jimenez was being questioned at police headquarters, a detective noticed that Jimenez matched the description of the man caught on the liquor store’s surveillance cameras the day of the attempted robbery. When questioned about the earlier events, Jimenez confessed to both crimes, police said. — Dean DeChiaro
BREAKING: Eagle-eyed Hoboken library staffer helps cops catch man who allegedly robbed woman at gunpoint
