LINDEN — A Newark man has been sentenced to years behind bars for robbing a delivery driver.

The nine-year prison sentence for 24-year-old Anthony Torres stems from an incident that occurred in broad daylight on June 7, 2023, in the parking lot of Jersey Lanes on Park Avenue.

Investigators say an Amazon delivery driver had parked in the lot to take a break, when Torres reached through the open side door of the delivery van and stole the driver's backpack.

Jersey Lanes Parking Lot (Google Street View)
Jersey Lanes Parking Lot (Google Street View)
loading...

The delivery driver exited the van and grabbed Torres's shirt as he entered a vehicle that was parked nearby. Officials say Torres struck the driver several times in an attempt to break free, and the victim was struck by the vehicle as Torres fled the scene.

SEE ALSO: Cop accused of using police database to find woman he fancies

The driver suffered minor injuries, according to police.

Torres's sentence ties to a second-degree robbery charge. Officials say the "extended" sentence is due to the offender's criminal past.

"There is absolutely no place for violent crimes like this in our community," said Linden Police Chief David Hart.

According to the New Jersey Department of Corrections, Torres has a lengthy rap sheet that includes multiple burglaries and credit card fraud.

Report a correction 👈 | 👉 Contact our newsroom

Ignore these calls, NJ! Area codes you should never pick up

While dodging scam calls can feel a bit like playing “Wack a mole” on the boardwalk, there are some area codes that are giant red flags, as collected by the Better Business Bureau and socialcatfish.com:

Gallery Credit: Erin Vogt

FBI's Top 5 Most Wanted violent fugitives in NJ

The FBI currently lists more than two dozen fugitives with ties to New Jersey on their ‘most wanted list.’ These are the five most violent and dangerous suspects.

Gallery Credit: Eric Scott

More From 94.3 The Point