By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer
A Brooklyn, New York man arrested in a string of shoplifting heists from CVS stores along the East Coast allegedly struck again at the CVS in Princeton two weeks ago, according to Princeton Police.
Ernesto Serrano, 34, on April 29 allegedly shoplifted about $5,000 worth of Nexium, Prilosec, Mucinex, Claritin, Flonase, Align and “other medications,” according to a police complaint-warrant. But he didn’t actually leave the store with them.
He allegedly hid the medication behind some toilet paper, so that an accomplice could come to the CVS later that day to put the “hidden” medication in a bag and leave with them, the complaint-warrant said.
Police spokesman Lt. Jon Bucchere said Tuesday that the case is under investigation, and that Mr. Serrano has not been arrested. The complaint-warrant, however, gave a May 2 arrest date. Mr. Serrano had a scheduled appearance in Princeton Municipal Court on Monday.
Mr. Serrano was caught shoplifting from CVS stores in Rhode Island and Connecticut, according to published media reports in those states. Back in 2009, for example, he and two others were charged with stealing over-the- counter-medication and other merchandise worth more than $13,000 from CVS stores in Connecticut, according to published reports.
Mr. Serrano’s listed address is for an apartment on Van Siclen Avenue, in the East New York section of Brooklyn.
