Authorities in Essex County are on the search for a man who is wanted for duping an Orange resident out of $160 after selling her a box of rocks that she thought was a flat-screened tv.
According to a preliminary investigation, on Tuesday, December 18th, Orange Police were dispatched to 321 Scotland Road after receiving reports of a theft by deception.
Upon arrival, police met with a woman who told them that she was leaving Bravo's Supermarket around 10:50 a.m. when a man approached her with a large TV inside a perfectly enclosed box which resembled a smart tv. According to the woman, the man told her that he was selling the TV for $160.
The woman told police that she was interested, then completed the transaction by giving the man exactly $160 and he gave her the box with the alleged TV inside.
Police say the suspect immediately left the area in a white van and when the woman opened the box, she said the tv was gone and the container was filled with rocks.
According to police, the woman could not give a complete description of the suspect due to a language barrier, but officers canvassing the area did confirm the transaction from a surveillance camera in the parking lot of Bravo's where the two were conducting the sale.
The investigation remains active, ongoing, and the suspect remains at-large.