Police Seek Public's Help Identifying "Apple Picking" Suspect

Lawrence Township Police seek the public's health identifying a person of interest in cases of iPhones being stolen at Quaker Bridge Mall on Route 1. 

Both cases involve men snatching phones out of the hands of women at the mall. Police say the thieves appear to be targeting women and ask that shoppers be vigilant. 

"If you're walking and you're texting, be more cognisant of your area," Det Sgt. Joseph Amodio said. "It's not an epidemic, we just tell women to use more caution. Maybe wait until you get in the car to text or to call. 

On March 17, a 50-year-old woman from Edison had her iPhone snatched out of her hand by a young man – who ran up to her from behind as she walked in the area of Quaker Bridge Mall’s center court.

The second incident occurred on March 27, when a man snatched a 23-year-old mall employee's cell phone as she was texting while walking through the mall around 5:30 p.m.

The woman suffered multiple injuries from being knocked to the ground during the robbery and then, after chasing after the thief, by being dragged along the pavement a short distance while trying to get into the thief’s getaway vehicle as it sped away, according to police.

Detective William Chester is investigating both crimes. Police ask anyone with information that could aid the investigation to call him at (609) 896-1111.