MORRIS PLAINS BOROUGH, NJ (Morris County) – Three individuals were arrested on Nov. 23 following an undercover operation aimed at curbing shoplifting and organized retail theft in Morris Plains Borough.
The operation was a joint effort between the Morris Plains Police Department, Roxbury Township Police Department, and the Morris County Sheriff’s Office.
The operation was conducted at a store located in the plaza at 1711 Route 10 East, with the assistance of loss prevention associates. Over the course of three and a half hours, officers apprehended three adult suspects and prevented nearly $1,700 in merchandise theft, including clothing, jewelry, and perfume.
The individuals arrested were:
- Carolina Arce, 39, of Jersey City, who was caught shoplifting $664.66 worth of merchandise. Arce was charged with a third-degree crime and released pending a court appearance.
- Maria Ladines, 64, of Jersey City, who stole $371.43 worth of items. Ladines faces a fourth-degree charge and was also released pending court.
- Michael Howard, 30, of Newark, who was apprehended after taking $594.96 worth of goods. He was charged with a third-degree crime and released on a summons.
Morris Plains Borough Police Chief Michael Koroski commends all officers involved in the successful and well-executed operation. He also extends his appreciation to the assisting agencies and the telecommunicators at the Morris County Communications Center for their professionalism and support.
“The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office is committed to working cooperatively with our local businesses, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office, and municipal law enforcement partners to hold retail shoplifting accountable, and to prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law possible, when appropriate. I applaud the Roxbury and Morris Plains Police Departments for their diligence,” Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll said.
“Chief Koroski is always the first to offer support in the way of mutual aid so it is our pleasure to return the backup to the Morris Plains Police Department. He identified a criminal pattern and successfully interrupted it. We’ll be back if needed,” said Sheriff James Gannon, Morris County Sheriff’s Office
“Proactive policing is the key to reducing theft, and it’s something that can be achieved by working together with other agencies. Law enforcement is not a solitary endeavor, it’s a team effort and we demonstrated that this weekend,” said Roxbury Township Police Chief Dean Adone.
