Editor’s note: We don’t usually print stories from outside the Hopewell Valley, but we thought since many Hopewellians shop at Mercer Mall, you should be alerted.
On Monday, July 25, 2022 at approximately 1:36pm, Lawrence Township Police Officers responded to the parking lot area of the Nike store (Mercer Mall, 3371 Brunswick Pike, Lawrenceville, NJ) for a report that a female was sprayed with an unknown substance before having her purse stolen.
Investigating officers learned that a female had exited the Bank of America (Mercer Mall) and proceeded to the Ross Dress for Less store (Mercer Mall). As the female made her way toward Ross Dress for Less, she took notice of a male sitting outside of the store. While inside of Ross Dress for Less, the female observed the same male walk by her several times.
Upon exiting Ross Dress for Less, the female returned to her vehicle and noticed that her tire pressure light was on. As the female began to drive past the Nike store, she saw the same male flagging her down. The male advised the female that she had a flat tire and told her he could help. The male retrieved a can of Fix-a-Flat from a green SUV that arrived and parked next to the female’s vehicle.
The male asked the female to help him connect the can of Fix-a-flat to the tire. While the female was bent down trying to assist, she was sprayed in the face with the contents of the can. The female was unharmed and was able to wipe the liquid from her face. The male then entered into the passenger seat of the green SUV and left the parking lot toward Quakerbridge Rd. The female re-entered her vehicle and noticed that her purse had been stolen from inside of the car while she and the male were attending to the tire. The female realized that she had been the victim of a diversionary theft and reported the incident to a family member.
Suspect # 1: Hispanic male, 35-40 years old, 5’3” tall, wearing a white hat and reading glasses.
Suspect # 2: Unknown
Suspect Vehicle: Green SUV with Pennsylvania license plates
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact Detective Ryan Dunn at 609-844-7125 or [email protected].
