EAST BRUNSWICK — Two suspects were charged after allegedly stealing the wallets of two employees of Best Tile.
Patrolman Luke Guinee responded to the store on Route 18 for a report of a theft around 4:30 p.m. on June 17.
Two employees indicated their wallets had been stolen out of their purses by two customers, according to a statement prepared by the East Brunswick Police Department.
The female customer, later identified as Deisha Bennett, 30, of Brooklyn, New York, had allegedly asked the employees for help in the corner of the store, police said. While reportedly assisting the customer, the second suspect, later identified as Travis Haynes, 27, also of Brooklyn, allegedly stole the wallets out of both employees’ purses.
Shortly after the theft, the victims’ credit cards were used at Best Buy in East Brunswick, police said. Patrol units as well as detectives responded to the store, but the suspects had already left in a silver Ford with Texas registration, according to reports.
During the course of the investigation, detectives apprehended two other individuals who were allegedly attempting to fraudulently use credit cards in the Best Buy store. Kwane Dower, 31, and Jeffrey Hunt, 23, both also from Brooklyn, allegedly attempted to purchase approximately $1,400 worth of merchandise each. They were charged with theft of credit cards, fraudulent use of credit cards and identity theft.
Bail was set at $10,000 with a 10 percent option on each, according to the statement. Hunt was able to post bail while Dower was transported to the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center in North Brunswick in lieu of bail.
The original complainant informed Guinee that she received an alert that her credit card was also used at Target on Ryders Lane in Milltown. The Milltown Police Department responded to the scene and reportedly located the suspects exiting Target, at which time they both allegedly fled on foot, according to police.
The suspects reportedly fled toward the Brunswick Grove on Milltown Road. Milltown police apprehended both suspects and took them into custody. The credit cards belonging to both East Brunswick victims were allegedly found on both suspects, according to reports.
Both suspects were charged with theft of credit cards, fraudulent use of credit cards and identity theft. Bail was set at $7,500, and both were transported to the Middlesex County Adult Corrections Center in lieu of bail.
