Shoplifters try to make a ‘clean’ get away after stealing shampoo from Sussex County ShopRite
SPARTA TOWNSHIP, NJ (Sussex County) – Two New York men were arrested after allegedly stealing shampoo from the ShopRite in Sparta Township.
On Jan. 24, at around 4:16 p.m., ShopRite loss prevention contacted police informing them that two men had shoplifted a large amount of personal hygiene products from the store and fled on foot across the parking lot, police said.
Patrols arrived on scene and met with Shoprite loss prevention who provided a photo and description of both male shoplifters, police said.
While searching the area for the suspects, an officer located one of the suspects, who was later identified as Bienvenido Polanco, 26 of the Bronx, by the residential area on North Village Boulevard and ordered him to stop, police said.
Bienvenido disregarded the officer’s order for him to stop and fled on foot running toward the back of Drive-up Self-Storage center on White Lake Road, police said.
“Unfortunately for Polanco he decided to run away from one of our fastest officers and Patrolman Herd easily caught up to him and placed him under arrest,” police said.
Patrols remained in the area searching for the second male suspect while a detective stayed with the suspect’s vehicle. The search of the immediate area was called off and the detective continued to monitor the vehicle until he observed a female approach the vehicle, police said.
After speaking with the female, she informed the detective that she was called by, Richard Sepulveda, 31 of the Bronx, to pick up the vehicle. During this conversation it was discovered that Sepulveda was hiding in Frankford, NJ by the Yetter’s Diner, police said.
The Sparta detective bureau contacted the New Jersey State Police and asked for assistance in locating Sepulveda. A short time later NJSP Troopers located Sepulveda in the above area where he was then arrested, police said.
Polanco and Sepulveda were both charged with fourth-degree shoplifting, and fourth-degree eluding. They were both released pending a court appearance.
The New Jersey State Police, Andover Police Department, Ogdensburg Police department, and the Sussex County Sheriff’s K9 unit assisted.
