OCEAN COUNTY – A South Toms River man has admitted to committing two armed robberies just three days apart earlier this year, authorities said.
Kenneth Grant, 58, pleaded guilty October 5 to two counts of robbery before Superior Court Judge Kenneth T. Palmer, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer.
The charges stem from robberies in Toms River and Lacey townships in March.
Grant is scheduled to be sentenced January 8, 2027. Prosecutors said they will seek concurrent 15-year terms in New Jersey State Prison on each robbery count. The sentences would be subject to the No Early Release Act, which generally requires defendants convicted of certain violent crimes to serve 85% of their sentences before becoming eligible for parole.
The first robbery occurred March 6 at the Wawa convenience store on Route 70 in Toms River. Police said a man approached a cashier, displayed a firearm and demanded money. After receiving cash, the robber fled on foot.
Three days later, Lacey Township police were called to the township’s TD Bank branch for another reported armed robbery. Investigators said a man showed a firearm to a teller and demanded money before leaving the bank on foot with cash.
Authorities eventually identified Grant as the suspect in both robberies.
Following the Lacey investigation, police obtained an arrest warrant and entered Grant’s information into the National Crime Information Center database.
Grant was arrested March 26 in Newark by Lacey Township detectives and members of the U.S. Marshals Service New York-New Jersey Regional Task Force. He was taken to the Ocean County Jail, where he has remained since his arrest.
Grant was also formally charged that day in connection with the Toms River robbery while being held at the jail.
Assistant Prosecutor Julie Peterson is handling the cases for the state.
Billhimer credited the Lacey Township Police Department, Toms River Police Department, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Squad, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit and U.S. Marshals Service New York-New Jersey Regional Task Force with working together on the investigations.
