MILLTOWN – Security staff at the Milltown Home Depot reported that an unidentified male attempted to walk out of the store with a shopping cart full of merchandise valued at approximately $4,000.
After being confronted by security, the suspect allegedly physically assaulted the employee, ran through the parking lot and fled the area in a white Cadillac sedan around 4:30 p.m. March 16, according to a statement prepared by the Milltown Police Department.
After an investigation was conducted by the detective bureau, it was discovered that there were other persons involved in this incident who may have been left behind by the fleeing suspect.
At approximately 5:25 p.m., police located a man near the Milltown Target, who had allegedly been with the robbery suspect during the shoplifting turned robbery, police said. Brian Frias, 24, of New York, New York, was charged with shoplifting and conspiracy to commit shoplifting. He was turned over to the Middlesex County Adult Corrections Center with bail set at $25,000 full.
The investigation is ongoing with more charges expected, police said.