Crime & Safety

Police Blotter: Attempted Burglary Under Investigation

Lawrence Township police are also investigating the theft of a car from a Route 1 motel, as well as the shoplifitng of over 100 items worth about $5,000 from Toys R Us.

Attempted Burglary

Lawrence Township police are investigating an attempted burglary that took place at a residence on Gedney Road during the early morning hours of Tuesday, April 5, according to Lt. Charles Edgar, police department spokesman.

He said the 74-year-old homeowner told police he was aroused from his sleep between 1:50 and 2 a.m. by a loud “bang” that he believed came from the rear of his home. Getting up, the homeowner turned on his outside lights and looked out a window. Not seeing anything amiss, he went back to sleep.

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Later that day, the elderly man’s daughter stopped in to visit. She noticed that the rear door was partially open, but the chain securing the door was still in place, Edgar said. He said the daughter also found that something had fallen off the wall near the door, which was possibly the noise the homeowner heard in the middle of the night.

Edgar said police believe someone was in the process of breaking into the house, but was momentarily delayed by the chain and then scared off by the noise of the falling item and the homeowner turning on of the lights.

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Officers processed the scene for evidence, including fingerprints, Edgar said, adding that Officer Robert Wagner and the township detective bureau are continuing to investigate the crime.

*   *   *

Vehicle Theft

A 29-year-old man from Morrisville, Pa., called police at 1:15 a.m. on Wednesday, April 6, to report that his car, a Lincoln LS, had just been stolen from the parking lot of the Sleep-E-Hollow motel in the 3000 block of Brunswick Pike (Route 1).

The man told police the car, along with his wallet, had been stolen by a woman. The man – who explained that he had met the woman earlier that day in Hamilton and that they had gone to the motel to “spend some time together” – said the woman grabbed his wallet and keys and drove away in his Lincoln while he was using the bathroom, according to Edgar.  

He said the woman was described as black, with short dark hair, about 30 years old, 5 feet 9 inches tall and 170 pounds.

Officer Joseph Radlinsky is investigating.

*   *   *

Simple Assault

A 15-year-old Lawrence Township girl was arrested and charged with simple assault after she allegedly punched another girl during a fight that took place on Wednesday, April 6, after township schools had an early dismissal due to parent-teacher conferences.

The incident took place at the Varsity Pizza restaurant in the 1200 block of Lawrence Road (Route 206) about 1 p.m.

Edgar said the victim, who is also 15, “confronted the suspect in reference to some ongoing rumors she believed the suspect had been spreading about her in school. They engaged in a verbal argument that turned physical, with the suspect allegedly striking the victim in the face with her hand.”

Several police officers responded to the restaurant after receiving reports of a fight in progress. The suspect fled before police arrived, but she was located a short time later and taken into custody, Edgar said.

*   *   *

Shoplifting

Township police are working to identify a man and a woman who stole about $5,000 worth of DVDs, video games and computer software from the Toys R Us store in the 3200 block of Brunswick Pike (Route 1).

Toys R Us loss prevention officials called police at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 6, to report that the theft had taken place on April 2. Unbeknownst to store employee at the time, the man and woman stolen over 100 items – including 45 Wii video games and 40 DVDs – during multiple visits to the store, Edgar said.

He said Toys R Us officials told police a similar theft had recently occurred at the Toys R Us store in Fairless Hills, Pa.

The man was described as white or Hispanic, with short black hair and a slim build, about 25 to 30 years old, 5 feet 7 to 9 inches tall, wearing a beige baseball cap, a blue and gray jacket, blue jeans and black shoes.

The woman was described as white or Hispanic with black hair worn in a ponytail and a slim build, in his mid-20s, about 5 feet 5 to 7 inches tall, wearing a white jacket, with gray sleeves and jeans.

*   *   *

Fraud

At 9:40 a.m. on Tuesday, April 5, an 86-year-old resident of Point Court called police to report he had been the victim of a scam that had gone on for several years.

Edgar said the elderly man told Officer James Vardanega that in 2007 he received a phone call from a man in East Windsor who convinced him that if he invested $20,000 with him the 86-year-old would eventually see a return of $100,000.

The victim handed over the money but, after years of promises and no return on his investment, he realized it was time to call police, Edgar said, noting that the investigation is still ongoing.      

*   *   *

Hindering

At 1:54 p.m. on Tuesday, April 5, township police received a complaint about a “suspicious male” who was panhandling at Mercer Mall in the 3300 block of Brunswick Pike (Route 1), Edgar said.

Officer Richard Laird III responded and questioned the man. At first, Edgar said, the man provided a false name, but Laird soon learned that the man was really Russell D. Barrie, 46, of Pottstown, Pa., and that he was wanted in connection with outstanding warrants from Lawrence and Trenton.

Barrie was taken into custody on those warrants and was also charged with hindering apprehension for allegedly lying about his real name, Edgar said.

*   *   *

Theft

Eleven items worth a total of $1,065 were stolen from display racks at the Trade Secrets store at Quaker Bridge Mall in the 3300 block of Brunswick Pike (Route 1) sometime between April 2 and 3, Edgar said, nothing that the theft was reported to police at 3:57 p.m. on Tuesday, April 5. Sgt. Chris Longo is investigating.

*   *   *

Theft

Luis P. Alvarez, 20, of Elmont Road in Hamilton, was arrested about 10 p.m. on Tuesday, April 5, and charged with theft for allegedly stealing a 6-pack of Heineken beer, a bottle of Jagermeister and a bottle of Gentleman Jack whiskey worth a total of $95 from the Joe Canal’s liquor store at Mercer Mall, Edgar said.

Alvarez, an employee of the store, allegedly concealed the bottles outside near the rear of the store and later returned to get them, according to Edgar.

*   *   *

Receiving Stolen Property

On Wednesday, April 6, police discovered that a 1999 Chevrolet pickup truck in the parking lot of Mercer Mall had been reported stolen from Limerick, Pa., on March 27, according to Edgar, who said police are investigating how the vehicle came to be left at Mercer Mall.

*   *   *

Shoplifting

About 5:45 p.m. on Wednesday, April 6, Sgt. Chris Longo arrested two 17-year-old Lawrence Township boys on charges of shoplifting from the Lord & Taylor department store at Quaker Bridge Mall, Edgar said.

He said one of the boys allegedly concealed a pair of $69.50 Calvin Klein shorts in a shopping bag, while his friend allegedly hid a pair of $25 Nike shorts in a backpack he was carrying. They then allegedly left the store without paying, but were followed by store loss prevention officers and detained until Longo arrived.

*   *   *

Shoplifting

John M. Miller, 40, of Trenton was arrested at 6:53 p.m. on Wednesday, April 6, after he allegedly stole two shirts worth a total of $30 from the Sears department store at Quaker Bridge Mall, Edgar said. He said Miller allegedly placed the shirts in the front basket or his motorized wheelchair and left the store without paying. He was charged with shoplifting by Sgt. Chris Longo.

Fraud

A 36-year-old resident of Trafalgar Court called police at 9:45 p.m. on Wednesday, April 6, to report that, thanks to a call from his credit card company, he had just learned that someone had used his credit card account information to make $74 worth of fraudulent purchases over the Internet, Edgar said, noting that the credit card company apparently became suspicious when the purchased items were shipped to an address that was different from the billing address. Officer Michael Whitmore is investigating.

Criminal Mischief

At 11:46 a.m. on Thursday, April 7, a 41-year-old resident of the 2600 block of Princeton Pike called police to report that someone had slashed two tires on the 1999 Jeep Wrangler that his daughter drives, Edgar said. The crime is believed to have taken place between 9 p.m. on Wednesday and early Thursday morning. Damage was estimated at $240.

The 41-year-old victim called police again at 6:50 p.m. Thursday to report that his 18-year-old daughter had started receiving “harassing” text messages on her phone from a “former” male friend, according to Edgar.

He said Officers John Glenn and Chris Stylianou are investigating the two incidents.

*   *   *

Shoplifting

Two college students – Joel Serrano, 18, of Hoboken and Jerome Cole, 18, of Dix Hills, N.Y. – were arrested about 7:35 p.m. on Thursday, April 7, after they allegedly stole $138.50 worth of clothing from the Lord & Taylor department store at Quaker Bridge Mall, Edgar said. He said the two allegedly put three shirts and a hat in a bag one of them was carrying and then left the store without paying. They were followed and detained by store loss prevention officials, he said. Serrano and Cole were each charged with shoplifting.

Drug Arrest

Judith C. Belisle, 19, of Rickard Court, was charged with possession of marijuana after her vehicle was stopped by police about 1:50 a.m. on Friday, April 8, on Bakers Basin Road, Edgar said. He said officers stopped the auto because it was similar to the description of a car wanted in connection with “suspicious activity” in another town. While interviewing the driver, officers allegedly detected an odor of burnt marijuana and then found a small amount of the drug inside, he said.

Anyone with information about any of the above crimes is asked to call Lawrence Township police at (609) 896-1111.

A copy of Lawrence Township's police dispatch log for Tuesday, April 5, through Thursday, April 7, 2011, can be viewed from the PDF box above. This log lists all significant calls for service and incidents for which officers filed a written report. Routine administrative assignments are omitted. Some data has been redacted to protect the identity of crime victims.


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