Brick Township, NJ – Brick Township Police Chief David Forrester announced that three individuals have been charged in connection with a series of distraction pickpocket thefts reported in May.
Oswaldo Uribe-Acosta, 35, Salvia Beraun-Villanueva, 27, and Oscar Lopez-Salcedo, 58, all from Paterson, New Jersey, were charged on June 11 with theft by unlawful taking, theft of property lost or mislaid, and computer criminal activity.
In May, Brick Township Police received multiple reports of wallets and purses being stolen from victims inside retail stores. The thefts involved a female suspect distracting the victim while a male accomplice removed the items from the victim or their shopping cart. The suspects then used the stolen credit cards at various stores, including Trader Joe’s, Target, Best Buy, and Costco.
Chief Forrester praised the collaborative efforts of the Brick Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Stafford Township Police Department, Montvale Police Department, and Cherry Hill Police Department in the investigation.
Shoppers are reminded to remain vigilant and keep their belongings secure while in stores.
All charges are accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.