By: Richard L. Smith
In a disturbing trend that continues to rattle a major pharmacy chain in Bloomfield, local police have arrested a suspect believed to be connected to at least one of a series of brazen shoplifting incidents.
The latest arrest occurred on August 18, following another theft at the Walgreens located at 77 Bloomfield Avenue.
According to a statement released by Bloomfield Police, officers responded to the store after receiving a report of a shoplifting incident.
Police said when they arrived, they were informed by store employees that a male suspect had reportedly walked out of the store with several boxes of candy worth $126 without paying.
Officers soon apprehended the suspect, later identified as Mr. Scott Moultrie, 38, of Seaside Heights, who was found nearby.
He was taken to Bloomfield Police Headquarters for processing.
The arrest comes amid a rising wave of thefts at the Bloomfield Avenue Walgreens, which has been targeted multiple times in recent weeks.
Police are now investigating whether Moultrie is involved in a larger string of shoplifting incidents that have plagued the store, causing considerable financial losses.
According to police, the store has seen at least half a dozen similar thefts in the past week alone, resulting in nearly a thousand dollars in losses.
What is particularly troubling to store employees and law enforcement alike is the flagrant disregard with which the thieves operate. Individuals reportedly enter the store, take high-value items—some worth over $50 at a time—and walk out with apparent impunity.
Police reports outline a series of incidents that have unfolded at the same Walgreens location over the past week:
- August 12, 2024: A male suspect concealed several bottles of detergent in a bag and left the store without paying. The stolen items were valued at $113.38. This case remains under investigation.
-August 15, 2024: A male suspect left the store with several bottles of detergent worth $38.94. The incident is under investigation.
-August 16, 2024: A male suspect stole approximately $100 worth of detergent and fled the store without paying. Authorities are still investigating.
-August 18, 2024: In a similar incident, a known shoplifter took several bottles of detergent valued at $21.96. Police continue to investigate.
The wave of thefts has prompted heightened patrols in the area as police attempt to curtail what they describe as a disturbing and escalating problem.
The Bloomfield Police Department officials have made clear their commitment to cracking down on these incidents and have been stepping up efforts to make more arrests.
Residents and businesses are growing increasingly concerned, as shoplifting incidents are not isolated to Walgreens.
The township reported nine such incidents across various businesses last week alone, painting a grim picture of a town grappling with retail crime.
As Bloomfield Police work to address the growing threat, store owners and employees remain on alert, anxiously hoping that Scott Moultrie's arrest will mark the beginning of the end for a rash of thefts that have worried their community.
Information Facts: Bloomfield Police Department