WOODBRIDGE

– A

South Amboy

teenager was held on $100,000 bail after police said they saw him attack and rob a shopper in broad daylight at the Woodbridge Center Mall parking lot.

The incident occurred about 1:50 p.m. on Saturday as a Woodbridge police officer patrolled near Sears, said Woodbridge police Capt. Roy Hoppock.

The officer witnessed the teen walk up to a man and punch him in the face, Hoppock said.

When the victim fell to the ground, the suspect removed money from his pocket, police said.

The suspect then ran through rows of parked cars with the officer in pursuit.

The officer caught up with the teen, handcuffed him and took him to police headquarters.

Demitri R. Nieves, 18, from Main Street, South Amboy, was charged with robbery, aggravated assault and endangering an injured victim, police said.

He was held on $100,000 bail.

The victim refused medical attention.

Hoppock said it was unusual for an attack and robbery to occur at the mall in daylight hours.

“It doesn’t happen every day, but it doesn’t happen every day that you have a police officer right there when it happens,” Hoppock said.