EAST BRUNSWICK–East Brunswick police have charged two men with allegedly stealing jewelry by using hammers to smash display cases at the Kohl’s East Brunswick store, which is located at 333 Route 18.
Patrol units responded to Kohl’s around 2:15 p.m. on Feb. 11 on a report of a shoplifting and criminal mischief, according to information provided by the East Brunswick Police Department.
The investigation revealed that three suspects – two males and a female – reportedly entered the store while a fourth remained in a vehicle parked in front of Kohl’s, according to police.
Carrying tote bags, the suspects walked directly to the jewelry display cases where both of the male suspects allegedly used hammers to break the display cases and remove the jewelry inside, while the female suspect allegedly took items in the area of the display cases, according to police.
After allegedly taking the merchandise, all three suspects exited the store and entered a black Dodge Charger that fled the area southbound on Route 18, police said.
The value of the stolen jewelry is approximately $157,000, with the damage to the display case valued at more than $2,000, according to police.
Viewing the interior surveillance footage and still shots of the incident, Detective Alex Danese, with the assistance of the New York Police Department and police departments from Pennsylvania and Delaware, was able to positively identify the two males suspects both being from Brooklyn, New York, according to police.
Information received from the assisting agencies identified the two men as being responsible for similar crimes within the New York City area as well as other states throughout the northeast, according to police.
The two men were both charged with shoplifting, conspiracy to commit shoplifting and criminal mischief, and warrants were issued for both.
The investigation is continuing in an attempt to identify the female suspect as well as the driver, according to police.
Contact Vashti Harris at vharris@newspapermediagroup.com.
