A Somerset trio was arrested Thursday in connection with an armed robbery spree in Morris and Sussex counties this week, authorities said.

Hardwick Stires, 20, of Basking Ridge was charged in Sussex County with three counts of first-degree armed robbery, one count of third-degree terroristic threats, two counts of third-degree theft, one count of fourth-degree theft and three counts of possession of an imitation firearm Thursday evening, Sussex County First Assistant Prosecutor Greg Mueller said. He's also facing charges in Morris County, the prosecutor said.

Stires and two others were apprehended Thursday after three Sussex County businesses and a liquor store in Kinnelon were robbed at gunpoint this week, Mueller said.

Stires allegedly used a replica firearm during these robberies, which, Mueller said, is why he isn't facing more substantial firearm charges. Even though the weapon wasn't an operational firearm, it's immaterial to the armed robbery charges, Mueller said.

Two others were charged in connection with the robbery of a Hampton Quick Chek Wednesday: Robert Colomban, Jr., 19, of Far Hills and Cassandra Post, 18, of Liberty Corner. Both Colomban and Post were each charged with second-degree conspiracy to commit robbery, Mueller said.

Basking Ridge and Liberty Corner are both unincorporated communities in Bernards Township.

Bail was set at $500,000 with no 10-percent option for Stires, Mueller said. The prosecutor declined to comment on bail for Colomban and Post.

"All of the credit goes to the tremendous effort by the joint investigative team that included detectives from the New Jersey State Police, the Kinnelon Police Department, the Franklin Police Department, law enforcement agencies from Somerset County and detectives from the Sussex County Prosecutor Office," Mueller said.

Police have said a man brandishing a long barrel gun and wearing a scarf around his face robbed Roserne's Liquors in Kinnelon at about 5 p.m. Monday. After ordering the owner to place only paper currency in a bag with no coins, the robber fled with several hundred dollars, police said.

A man matching that description robbed a Delta Gas Station in Wantage later that night after putting a gun to the head of a gas station attendant, Mueller said.

Tuesday, the Plains Pharmacy in Franklin was robbed by two men — one of whom had a gun — around 7:20 p.m., the prosecutor said. The next day, the Quick Chek on Route 206 in Hampton was also robbed at gunpoint, he said.

More information on the investigation and the trio's apprehension was expected to be released Friday afternoon, he said.

Anyone with information on these robberies can contact the Franklin Borough Police Department at 973-827-7700, the Kinnelon Police Department at 973-838-5400, the Sussex County Prosecutor's Office at 973-383-1570 or the State Police at Sussex barracks at 973-383-1514.

Justin Zaremba may be reached at jzaremba@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinZarembaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

