Township Man Busted Shortly After Allegedly Robbing WaWa

Dupre J. McCalla. Photo: Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office.

A 45-year-old township man faces robbery and other charges after he allegedly stole cash from a gas station booth at the WaWa market on Somerset Street.

Dupre J. McCalla of Franklin Park was arrested Aug. 4 a short time after he allegedly brandished a knife to a gas station employee in his attempt to steal the money, according to a press release from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office.

The robbery was called in to township police at about 1:49 p.m., the release said. Investigators were told that McCalla was found by an employee in the gas attendant’s booth, trying to take money from the cash register.

When the employee confronted hm, police said, McCalla brandished a knife. The employee left the booth, but closed the door on McCalla to trap him inside.

McCalla was eventually able to free himself, dropping the cash and his knife in the process, police said. Once the door was opened, police said, McCalla grabbed his knife and some cash and ran away.

The employee described McCalla, police said, and officers spotted him a short time later in the area. McCalla initially gave them a different name, police said, but he was later identified as the robber.

Police were able to recover about $105 of the $440 that was reported stolen from the booth, according to the release.

McCalla was charged with 1st Degree Robbery, 3rd Degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose and 4th Degree Hindering Apprehension, according to the release.  McCalla remains in custody in the Somerset County Jail, Somerville, pending a bail hearing.

The incident is still under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit at (908) 231-7100, or the Franklin Township Police Department at (732) 873-5533 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477) or online at www.888577tips.org or at www.scpo.net and click on either “Crime Stoppers” or “TIPS HOTLINE”. All anonymous Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

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