Police in Newark, New Jersey are actively searching for a suspect who allegedly attempted to rob an Ecuadorian restaurant using Google Translate to communicate his demands, in a bizarre and ultimately failed criminal endeavour.
The Bungled Hold-Up Attempt
According to authorities, the incident occurred on February 20, just before 8 a.m., at Mi Rinconcito Ecuatoriano restaurant. The man initially purchased a cup of coffee, then used the Google Translate application on his phone to announce he was robbing the establishment. A police report indicates he allegedly threatened to shoot the cashier if she did not open the register immediately.
Unnecessary Translation and Frustrated Flight
Ironically, the suspect reportedly used the app to translate his words from English to Spanish, which was entirely unnecessary as the cashier was fluent in English, according to local news outlet News12. The cashier complied with the demand and opened the cash drawer. However, the robber then struggled to remove the drawer from the register, apparently unable to figure out the mechanism.
In a fit of frustration, the suspect threw his coffee at the cashier before fleeing the restaurant empty-handed. He also reportedly threw a vase that was on a table during his angry exit.
Restaurant Owner and Community Impact
The restaurant's owner, identified only as Maria, described the unsettling event to News 12. "A man came to buy a coffee, and he bought a coffee and then he wanted to keep the money. And when [the cashier] told him to take it, he didn't take it and got angry, he threw the coffee at her and then he threw a vase that was on the table at her," she recounted.
Maria expressed that she and her employees have been left feeling fearful and on edge following the attempted robbery. "We are left with fear, because there are times we cannot be here. We think it can happen again," she told the broadcaster. The restaurant is located in Newark's Ironbound district, an area known for its significant Latino population.
Suspect Description and Ongoing Investigation
Police have released a surveillance camera photo and are seeking a Black man described as wearing all black clothing, a black ball cap, and a black face mask during the incident. Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact the 24-hour Crime Stoppers tip line at 1-877-NWK-TIPS. The Newark Police Department has been approached for further comment on the ongoing investigation.
Not an Isolated Incident
This restaurant robbery attempt is not the first instance where criminals have employed Google Translate during illegal activities. In a separate case in Chicago, prosecutors charged two 18-year-olds, Tyshon Smith and Dylan Roszak, with robbery in connection with a hold-up on a city train on September 26. According to reports from CWB Chicago, the men allegedly used Google Translate to demand money from a Spanish-speaking victim, who complied by handing over $150 in cash and his Mexican identification card.
The use of translation technology in criminal acts highlights an unusual trend, though in the Newark case, it proved both unnecessary and ineffective, resulting only in a frightened staff and a suspect still at large.
