Suspect Sought in Armed Robbery at Bevacqua's Deli

A man entered Bevacqua's Deli at Ocean Avenue and Port Monmouth Road around 5:00 p.m. Monday, pointed a gun at the owner, Peter Patel, and demanded cash.

"He said give me money or I'll hurt you," said Patel

His wife quickly gave him around $500 in lottery cash and the man took off and got in his car, said Patel. Middletown Police arrived at the store at 5:05 p.m.

Detectives are looking for the suspect. He is described as a white male, mid to late 20s, approximately 5'10, medium build wearing a black leather jacket over a camouflage hooded sweatshirt. He wore sunglasses.

His vehicle was described as a dark grey Chevrolet Malibu, model year between 2008 and 2012. The vehicle had tinted windows, a moon roof and chrome trim.

Nobody was injured during the robbery, which occurred when the store was momentarily empty of customers.

Patel has spoken to the owner of the Bray Avenue Deli where there was also an armed robbery. The suspect in that case has not been caught. If he thinks about it, he can become mad at the injustice of being robbed. 

"We're hard-working people. I work 16 hours a day," said Patel.

Patel said he doesn't want to think about what could have happened. "A person like this, if he did something to me, what would happen to my family?  He wanted to scare me. He was pointing the gun at my face. My kids were in the store, but they were in the back." 

Patel said he knows nearly all of his customers. "I see all my customers repeatedly every day. He was here maybe three times in the last ten days."

Anyone with information is asked to call Middletown Township Police Detective Laurence Schachtel at 732-615-2062 or the main police desk at 732-615-2100.