Crime & Safety

Watchung Police Probe Rash of Shoplifting Reports

Man escaped Walmart after trying to steal two TVs, police said.

Watchung police made numerous arrests recently after a rash of shoplifting reports.

  • Authorities are searching for a man who fled from Walmart after being stopped by police for allegedly stealing two television sets.

A loss prevention officer said a shoplifter ran from the store after being detained around 6:54 p.m. May 14. Police said a man tried to leave the store with two LG 32-inch television sets by showing a false receipt to employees at the exit. When he was stopped, the man escaped before police arrived.

  • A Plainfield man was arrested May 17 for theft after he was found with stolen video games and clothing from Walmart.

Daniel Demaurez, 21, was charged with shoplifting after he was found at 1:29 p.m. with $142.63 worth of items from the store, police said. Demaurez was processed and released, with a court appearance scheduled for June 5.

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  • On the same day, Christopher Bellamy of Piscataway, 39, was arrested by Watchung police after they said he stole boots from Sears.

According to police, Bellamy was found in the Homeowners Heaven lot in North Plainfield after officials with Sears registered the complaint. Police said Bellamy had selected a $95 pair of boots and put them on his feet while putting his own shoes in the box and walking out of the store.

Police said he left the scene in his car.

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Bellamy was released after paying $150 in bail.

  • On May 15, a Bronx resident was charged with shoplifting after police said he stole from Home Depot.

Samuel Morales, 58, was charged after being found with $149.88 worth of locks he had allegedly taken from the store. Morales was taken to Somerset County Jail after he couldn't post the $250 bail.

  • A Plainfield woman was arrested on May 14 after police said she stole makeup from Sears on Route 22 in Watchung.

Rosa Aragon-Deaquino was charged with shoplifting after police found her with $19 worth of make-up she had allegedly not paid for.

  • On the same day, Alva Aquino-Aragon, 22, of Plainfield, was charged with shoplifting after she was found with $222.50 worth of make-up she had allegedly stolen from Sears.

Aquino-Aragon was released after posting $250 bail.

  • Watchung police are also investigating a report from a woman at 5:57 p.m. May 13 that someone stole her iPhone from her shopping cart while she was in Shop & Shop.

According to police, the iPhone is valued at $250.


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