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SOUTH BRUNSWICK – Arrest made for purse theft at fundraiser

By Mary Brienza, Staff Writer
   A 20-year-old Kendall Park resident was arrested for allegedly stealing a purse with six credit cards from a volunteer at the Hugs for Brady pancake breakfast at the Senior Center on Ridge Road on Sunday, police said.
   Police said Jessica Taylor attended the event and allegedly took a volunteer’s purse that had been left on a table.
   Ms. Taylor then went with an unidentified friend to the Oxford Valley Mall in Pennsylvania and reportedly charged more than $3,500 in purchases with the cards, police said.
   ”It is such an unfortunate event to have someone allegedly do such a repugnant act while attending a fundraiser,” one of Hugs for Brady founders, Sherrie Wells, said in a statement Tuesday. “While this incident has no bearing on the integrity of the Hugs for Brady Foundation, we will do everything in our power to ensure that the victim of this senseless crime is made whole, and that the person responsible for this is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
   In the statement, Ms. Wells also offered her opinion on a potential sentence should the suspect be found guilty of the offence.
   ”I hope that the judge includes community service (in their sentence) on a children’s oncology floor to give the perpetrators a better understanding of just how fortunate they really are,” Ms. Wells said. “This type of behavior can neither be condoned nor justified by any organization, let alone a foundation that is solely dedicated to helping children with cancer. We will try our very best to see that this never occurs again to any of our volunteers.”
   Ms. Taylor allegedly bought clothes from Express, Macy’s, Old Navy and Banana Republic stores, food from the Olive Garden restaurant and gas on the cards, police said.
   Ms. Taylor was charged with theft of credit cards and was released pending her first court appearance. Ms. Taylor and her friend may face additional charges related to the theft in Pennsylvania where the cards were used, police said.
   Hugs for Brady was founded by Sherrie and Mike Wells in October 2009 after their son, Brady was diagnosed with a rare leukemia called nondifferentiated acute leukemia and is trying to raise money to cure childhood cancer, Ms. Wells said.
   Sunday’s event raised more than $6,100 for the cause, according to organizers.
   Ms. Well said it was the first time this had happened at one of the fundraisers, and in the future, volunteers will be told to either put valuables away or not bring them at all.
   ”In this day and age, it is unfortunate (that) you have to be more careful,” Ms. Wells said.