Dunellen man charged in inside job robbery at car dealership – My Central Jersey

Two men, including one from Dunellen, have been arrested in connection with the coordinated robbery of $20,000 in cash at a Springfield car dealership in August.

Christopher B. Phillips, 33, of Dunellen, and Kareem O. Spann, 42, of Orange, have been charged with robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery, both second-degree crimes, acting Union County Prosecutor Lyndsay V. Ruotolo and Sprinfield Police Chief John Cook said in a statement.

At about 2:10 p.m. Aug. 21, members of the Springfield Police Department responded to the 21st Century Auto Group on eastbound Route 22 in Springfield on a report of a robbery, according to Union County Assistant Prosecutor Peter DeRose, supervisor of the Prosecutor’s Office’s Major Crimes Division.

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An investigation led by Springfield Detective John Patrick and assisted by members of the Major Crimes Division’s Intelligence-Driven Prosecution Unit revealed that on the day of the robbery, Phillips, a salesman at the car dealership, had been speaking with two prospective customers who had $20,000 in cash in their possession, according to the statement.

A masked man later identified as Spann then allegedly approached the customers in the rear of the dealership, wrestled the bag containing the cash away from them, and drove off in a white Cadillac sedan, the statement said.

A search warrant was executed as well as a communications data warrant for the cellphones of both Phillips and Spann. The investigation indicated the two men had allegedly been in constant contact during the time immediately before and after the robbery, according to the statement.

Location data from Spann’s phone also showed the device in the area of the robbery at the time of the robbery, then leaving and returning to his Essex County home, the statement said.

Phillips was arrested in Green Brook and Spann was arrested in Orange without incident on Oct. 1, and both were lodged in the Union County Jail pending a Superior Court first appearance and detention hearing, the statement said.

The Cadillac believed to be used during the robbery was also recovered on Wallace Street in Orange, and following the execution of a search warrant, it was towed from the scene to be searched, the statement said. 

Email: srussell@gannettnj.com 

Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.