Police have busted four men they say posed as cops and pretended to bust prostitutes in Hackensack.
Christopher Gordnick, Dikran Yakoubin, Alain Martinez and Michael Sarmadi are each charged with robbery and impersonating a police officer.
Authorities say the motive of the alleged impostors was to rob victims that wouldn?t be willing to go to the police for help. ?We believe it was targeted as prostitutes ? probably because they were victims who would be reluctant to come forward,? says Chief Ken Zisa, of the Hackensack Police Department.
The men were arrested after allegedly robbing two women of $200 at a Best Western on Route 4. According to police, they used replica badges to bully women they arranged meetings with online.
Police believe the suspects may be involved in dozens of similar schemes throughout Bergen and Passaic counties. Three of them are already facing charges in Clifton as well.