Police Blotter: Late night shoplifting, stolen credit card, and illegal dumping

The following is information provided by the Hopewell Township Police Department, which serves Hopewell Township and Hopewell Borough:

Three incidents of shoplifting at ShopRite — two on same night
On January 11, 2023 at 11:18am, Officer Blake DeMeter responded to the ShopRite of Pennington for a report of two incidents of shoplifting the prior day.

Store personnel reported that two unidentified males arrived at the store on January 10 at approximately 9:45pm. One of the male subjects remained near the front entrance of the store. The other male is seen on surveillance taking various items from inside the store. The subject was confronted at the exit by store staff, but continued out of the store. The subjects left in a white Toyota Rav 4. The total loss was reported as $361.61. The investigation is ongoing. 

At 10:15pm on the same evening of January 10, a second incident of shoplifting occurred at the store. Officer DeMeter was detailed to this incident for investigation. Store staff reported that a black Chevy Impala arrived at the store and an unidentified male subject and unidentified female subject entered the vestibule of the store. The subjects are seen on surveillance taking numerous items without paying. The total loss was reported as $597.33. The investigation is ongoing. 

On January 20, 2023 Officer Ryan Ludwig was dispatched to the ShopRite of Pennington for a report of shoplifting that occurred on January 19. Loss prevention reported that a male was found on surveillance to have stolen numerous items from the store totaling $464.38. The subject is then seen leaving the scene in a blue Chevy Impala. Officer Ludwig was able to identify the license plate of the vehicle, and subsequently identified the suspect. The suspect was charged with Shoplifting and is scheduled to be heard in Superior Court. 

HTPD responded to call at Capital Health-Hopewell
The Hopewell Township Police Department (HTPD) received a call on January 9, 2022 at 9:21pm from Capital Health Systems – Hopewell Campus reporting a male individual who was refusing to leave the property. Upon making contact, Officer Arthur Juba checked the subject for any active warrants and was found to have one active warrant for $500 out of the City of Trenton. The individual was also found to be in possession of CDS and paraphernalia during the arrest. The matter is scheduled to be heard in Hopewell Township Municipal Court. 

Wallet taken at Capital Health-Hopewell
On January 11 at approximately 10:27am, Officer Paul Alvaro was detailed to the HTPD lobby for a walk-in report of theft. The victim reported that they were at Capital Health Systems – Hopewell Campus for an appointment on January 10, 2023 at 2:15pm. When the victim left their appointment, they realized their wallet was left behind in the office. Upon return to the office, it was found to have been stolen. The approximate total value lost was estimated at $51.00. The investigation is ongoing. 

Bike stolen from rack at Hopewell Branch Library
On January 12, Officer James Klesney was detailed to the HTPD lobby for a report of a stolen bicycle. The victim reported that they left their bike unsecured at the bike rack located outside the Mercer County Library located on Pennington Titusville Road in Hopewell Township. The victim entered the library at 4:56pm and, when they came outside at 7:00pm, the bike was missing. The bike was described as a purple/turquoise Aria Street Bike valued at approximately $500.00. A canvass of the area produced negative results. The investigation is ongoing. 

Computer / phone perp scams local
On January 15, 2023 at approximately 12:35pm, Officer Christopher Vaccarino met with the victim of fraud at the Hopewell Township Police Station lobby. The victim reported that she received a notification on her iPad stating that her device was hacked. A phone number was listed on the notification for her to call. The victim contacted the number and was subsequently scammed into purchasing $2,000 in gift cards. The codes on the gift cards were provided to the suspect over the phone. The victim suffered a total loss of $2000. The investigation is ongoing. 

Stolen credit card racks up big bill
On January 15, Officer Steven Ciosek responded to the Hopewell Township Police Lobby for a walk-in report of theft. The victim reported that she lost her credit card in November of 2022. The credit card was later used at for $9,645.00 in purchases made at King of Prussia Mall. The investigation is ongoing. 

Old desk dumped in Federal City driveway
On January 19, at approximately 3:44pm Officer Christopher Vaccarino was dispatched to a Federal City Road address for a report of illegal dumping. The victim stated that an unknown subject left an old wooden desk in front of their driveway. The subject has yet to be identified, and the investigation is ongoing. 

Altered check scam defrauds local
On January 19, Officer Vaccarino responded to a Diverty Road address for a reported fraud. The victim reported that they mailed a check in the amount of $1,841.80. The following week a charge was found on the victim’s account for $4,841.80. Upon review, the check was found to have been altered in the amount and of the payable party. The investigation is ongoing.