Police Blotter: More Bras, Panties Stolen from Mall

Theft

Officer Thomas Chianese is investigating the theft of $790 worth of merchandise – five bras and 40 panties – from the Victoria’s Secret store at Quaker Bridge Mall in the 3300 block of Brunswick Pike (Route 1), according to Lt. Charles Edgar, spokesman for the Lawrence Township Police Department.

He said the crime was reported to police at 7:48 p.m. on Saturday, May 14.

, although it is unclear at this time in there is any connection between those earlier crimes and the most-recent theft.

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Burglary

A 29-year-old man called police at 6:58 a.m. on Friday, May 13, to report that someone had broken into a residence he owns on Rich Court, possibly by way of the rear door, and stole a dehumidifier valued at $167, Edgar said, noting that the house was in the process of being remodeled. Officer Adam Kowalczyk is investigating.

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Theft

A 70-year-old resident of Helen Avenue called township police at 12:17 p.m. on Thursday, May 12, to report that someone had stolen about $1,200 worth of assorted tools from his vehicle, which he had left parked unlocked in front of his home, Edgar said. Officer Mark Harmon is investigating.

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Obstructing Justice

Vincent Hughes, 20, of Philadelphia was arrested about 6:10 p.m. on Thursday, May 12, and charged with obstructing justice for allegedly lying about his identity and providing police with a false name, Edgar said.

He said Hughes was part of a group of two men and two women who officers stopped to question inside Quaker Bridge Mall after employees of the Littman’s jewelry store located in the mall called police to report that the foursome was “acting suspiciously” while inside the store. Store employees were reportedly concerned in the wake of the in Lawrence Township last month.

The identities of the other three individuals checked out fine, but Hughes’ alleged deception was discovered and he was arrested by Officer Chris Schuster, according to Edgar. It was unknown why Hughes wanted to conceal his identity.

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Theft

Officer Chris Stylianou is investigating the theft of an iPod Touch valued at $300 from the Lincoln residence hall on the Rider University campus in the 2000 block of Lawrence Road (Route 206), Edgar said. He said the victim, a 19-year-old woman from North Brunswick, told police she realized the iPod was missing after a party she held in her dorm room was over. She called police to report the crime at 6:25 p.m. on Thursday, May 12.

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Shoplifting

A 16-year-old girl from Hamilton Township was arrested about 4:42 p.m. on Friday, May 13, after she allegedly stole 12 items of clothing from the Old Navy store at Quaker Bridge Mall, Edgar said. He said store employees allegedly saw the girl remove tags from the clothes and then stuff the items in a large purse she was carrying. The girl was detained after she left the store without paying and was charged with shoplifting by Officer Shaun Sexton, he said.

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Theft

A 26-year-old resident of Mulberry Street called police at 12:21 a.m. on Saturday, May 14, to report that she had just learned that someone had withdrawn $606 from her bank account using automated teller machines (ATMs) in California, apparently by using a copy of her debit card, Edgar said. The woman told police she realized something was amiss with her bank account when she went to make a purchase locally and her debit card was rejected. She checked her account online once she got home and discovered the fraudulent transactions, he said. Officer Marc Caponi is investigating.

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Burglary & Criminal Mischief

Officer Daniel Gladney is investigating who broke into an abandoned building in the 4100 block of Quakerbridge Road and spray-painted graffiti on the interior, Edgar said. He said entry to the building was made by forcing open a window that had been boarded-up. The crime was reported at 9:04 a.m. on Saturday, May 14.

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Shoplifting

Two Trenton girls – one 17, the other 14 – were arrested about 12:40 p.m. on Saturday, May 14, after they allegedly stole $265.90 worth of merchandise from the Old Navy store at Quaker Bridge Mall, Edgar said. He said store loss prevention officials allegedly saw the girls put 15 items of clothing in bags they were carrying and then leave the store without paying.

The girls allegedly refused to return to the store when they were confronted by the Old Navy officials and instead exited the mall, Edgar said. He said police caught up with the girls in the area of a motel located near the mall. Both were charged with shoplifting by Officer Daniel Gladney. The older girl was also charged with obstruction for allegedly lying about her name, he said.

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Shoplifting

Makeba K. Flagg, 21, of the 1800 block of Greenwood Avenue in Hamilton Township and a 17-year-old girl from Rocky Point, N.Y., were arrested shortly before 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 14, after they allegedly stole silver rings – each worth $40 – from the Sears department store at Quaker Bridge Mall, according to Edgar. The women allegedly wore the stolen rings on their fingers as they walked out of the store, he said.

Officer Shaun Sexton charged each of the women with shoplifting, Edgar said. He noted that the 17-year-old had allegedly run away from home and had been reported missing by her family in Nassau County, N.Y.

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 Thursday, May 12, through Saturday, May 14, 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.