By: centraljersey.com
Police in three counties are working together to find a woman, or possibly a group of people, suspected of stealing credit cards and then using them to fraudulently purchase hundreds of dollars in merchandise.
South Brunswick police released a video surveillance photo Sunday of a woman, described as an African American female in her 30s and possibly driving a white Chrysler 300, from the Target store on Route 1.
South Brunswick police spokesman Sgt. James Ryan said Sunday the woman pictured in the Target photo allegedly stole a wallet from the pocketbook of a customer at the Barnes & Noble bookstore on Route 1 in West Windsor Jan. 9.
West Windsor police spokesman Lt. Brian Melnick said Monday that a Plainsboro woman in the Barnes & Noble store left her purse unattended between 12:30-1:30 p.m. while she took her child to the children’s section of the store.
When she returned, she found her wallet, containing $80 in cash and credit cards missing from the purse, Lt. Melnick said.
Within an hour of the theft, the woman in the photo went to the Target in South Brunswick and purchased two iPads, $400 in gift cards from Staples and electronics items from the Best Buy in the plaza, Sgt. Ryan said.
Sgt. Ryan said police believe the theft could be linked to similar incidents in Bridgewater and Raritan Borough in Somerset County.
Bridgewater police arrested two women Jan. 21 following a similar crime in the township, Lt. Al Nicaretta said Monday.
The incident in that community started earlier in the day at a restaurant in Raritan Borough, according to police.
Raritan police spokesman Lt. Robert Ludwig said the incident in that municipality began at the Panera Bread restaurant at 300 Route 202 Jan. 21.
Lt. Ludwig said a male customer had his black wallet, containing personal documents and an unknown amount of credit cards, stolen from his jacket pocket while it was hung over a chair.
Later that day, two women attempted to purchase two iPads with the stolen documents, Lt. Nicaretta said.
A clerk at the Best Buy up the road on Route 202, noticed that the women brought the merchandise up to the counter and considered it unusual because of their value, Lt. Nicaretta said.
According to Lt. Nicaretta, the women tried to use the passport of the male Panera Bread victim as well as the credit cards when the clerk challenged them.
Lt. Nicarella said the women tried to flee the scene but were stopped and apprehended by officers in the plaza parking lot as they tried to leave.
Police later arrested and charged Jennifer Morris, 27, of Weehawkin and Cynthia Lopez, 35, of Corona, New York with attempted theft by deception and possessing fraudulent government documents, Lt. Nicaretta said.
Ms. Morris was also charged with fraudulent used of a debit card, wrongful impersonation, credit card theft and exhibiting falser government documents.
Ms. Lopez was additionally charged with resisting arrest, according to Lt. Nicaretta.
Both women were released on their own recognizance, Lt. Nicaretta said.
During their questioning, Lt. Nicaretta said the women admitted to being part of a larger ring operating in throughout the state.
South Brunswick Police the most recent incident in that community is related to the arrests in Bridgewater, according to police.
