ROCHELLE PARK, NJ – Two men from Newark have been apprehended for the theft of 140 shopping carts from a ShopRite store in Bergen County, with the stolen goods valued at approximately $28,000. Police Captain James DePreta reported that the thefts began on March 27 and culminated in the arrest of the suspects on Tuesday.
Each cart was valued at $200, and the thefts occurred over a two-week period, with the carts gradually disappearing from the store’s parking lot. The investigation was conducted by township police detectives in collaboration with ShopRite’s loss prevention officers, who identified a red van seen on security footage.
Police traced the vehicle using a license plate number captured on video and intercepted the van when it returned to the ShopRite parking lot around 12:40 p.m. on Tuesday. Upon searching the vehicle, officers discovered five carts in the rear and subsequently arrested the two individuals involved.
The suspects, aged 77 and 54, face charges including theft, receiving stolen property, possession of burglary tools, and possession of property derived from criminal activity. After their arrest, they were taken to the Bergen County Jail and have since been released.
