Suspect charged in backpack theft from employees-only area of Bubbakoo’s Burritos
Franklin Lakes, NJ – A woman has been charged with multiple offenses after allegedly entering a restricted area of a local restaurant and stealing from an employee’s backpack, following an investigation that involved facial recognition and license plate tracking technology.
The incident occurred in October at Bubbakoo’s Burritos, where the manager reported that an unidentified female entered the employees-only section of the store and removed a backpack belonging to a staff member. The suspect took a wallet containing cash, identification, and a debit card, then placed the backpack back in its original spot before leaving.
Detective Steven Albert was assigned to the case. Investigators used newly installed Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) in the area and facial recognition software to track down the suspect. The investigation led to the identification of a 53-year-old woman from Paterson.
She was subsequently charged with Burglary, Theft, and Credit Card Theft. Authorities have not disclosed whether any of the stolen property was recovered.
The suspect’s identity has not been released, and no court date has been announced.
Key Points
- A woman was charged in connection to a theft from the employees-only area of a Franklin Lakes restaurant
- The suspect allegedly stole a wallet from a backpack and returned the bag
- Facial recognition and license plate readers helped identify the 53-year-old suspect
