Two I-95 toll booths robbed at Newark-area plaza

Northbound toll booths were robbed at I-95's plaza near Newark on Friday and Sunday nights, with a masked man in dark clothing grabbing cash before driving away, state police said.

"We will not say whether or not we feel the same person is responsible for both robberies," Master Cpl. Jeffrey R. Hale said.

Limited information is being released due to the ongoing investigation, he said, and police are not revealing how much was stolen.

Neither toll-taker was injured, said Mike Williams, spokesman for the state Division of Motor Vehicles, which oversees the highway toll operations.

The first robbery was about 8:30 p.m. Friday, when a masked man stopped at a booth on the highway's northbound side, Hale said.

The man reached into the booth staffed by a 48-year-old man, grabbed cash and returned to his vehicle, driving away to the north, Hale said.

No weapon was shown or implied, he added.

The robber was described as black, 23-27 years old, about 5 feet 7 inches tall and thin, wearing a dark-colored long sleeved shirt and dark pants.

The second robbery – similarly committed – was reported at 8:58 p.m. Sunday.

A vehicle again stopped at a booth on the northbound side of the toll plaza and the masked driver got out, Hale said.

He opened the door of the toll booth, staffed by a 52-year-old woman, took cash and fled, driving north, he said.

The robber was described as a black male with no age-range given, 5 feet 7 inches tall and about 150 pounds, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and black pants.

According to an initial police radio broadcast after Sunday night's robbery, the getaway car was reported stolen in New Jersey.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Delaware State Police robbery unit at Troop 2, Glasgow, at (302) 365-8566 or by sending texts with the keyword DSP to 274637 (CRIMES). Tips also may be given through Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) TIP-3333 and www.tipsubmit.com.

Contact robin brown at (302) 324-2856 or rbrown@delawareonline.com. Find her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter @rbrowndelaware. Contact Karl Baker at kbaker@delawareonline.com or (302) 324-2329. Follow him on Twitter @kbaker6.