FOUR ARRESTED FOR THEFT

DATE/TIME: 1/3/2008
LOCATION: Pep Boys, Hwy35
OFFICERS INVOLVED: Todd Gregory, William Crosta, Dimitrios Kelesidis, Detective Gregory Tongring, Detective Gregory Schenck, Detective Timothy Torchia and Sgt. Thomas Burke. Perth Amboy Detectives Mabner Terron and Sandra Rivera.
ACCUSED: Diana Rivero, Age 19 of Ocean Township.
Phillip Meiklejohn, Age 18 of Neptune.
David Sawyer, Age 19 of Neptune.
Brian Ford, Age 20 of Neptune.

NARRATIVE
     On 1/3/08 at approximately 4:40 pm, police were called to the Pep Boys located on Highway in reference to a shoplifting incident. The manager at Pep Boys reported that a subject took a GPS Navigation system valued at approximately $350.00 and fled the store. This same subject returned to the store parking lot a short time later in a 1999 Pontiac Grand Am being driven by a female. Prior to this shoplifting, the Ocean Township Police had been notified by the Perth Amboy Police to be on the look out for the same Grand Am. The Grand Am was wanted in connection with a strong arm robbery that occurred at the Gold Star Jewelers at approximately 1:30 pm in Perth Amboy and the registered owner lived in Ocean Township. The Grand Am had left the Pep Boys before police arrived.
     At approximately 5:59 pm, Officers Crosta and Kelesidis located the Grand Am and subsequently stopped it on Ruth Ave in Neptune. The driver who was also the registered owner, identified as Diana Rivero, was arrested on a warrant out of Ocean Township. She was also found to be in possession of marijuana and related drug paraphernalia. A passenger, identified as Phillip Meiklejohn was also arrested on a warrant out of Ocean Township. He was also in possession of a fake ID. A third passenger, identified as David Sawyer, subsequently was taken to Jersey Shore Medical after complaining of feeling sick. He was later transported back to OTPD. A fourth passenger, a 17-year-old female from Neptune, was taken into protective custody and later turned over to her mother.
     A further investigation conducted by Ocean Township Detectives Tongring, Schenck and Torchia along with Perth Amboy Detectives Terron and Rivera revealed that Sawyer, Meiklejohn and Rivero were involved in the strong arm robbery at the Perth Amboy jewelry store. A fourth subject involved in the robbery, identified as Brian Ford, came to OTPD during the investigation after learning that the others were in custody. He was later taken into custody. It was also learned that Meiklejohn did in fact shoplift the Navigation system from Pep Boys earlier in the evening. Meiklejohn was also in possession of a 2007 Buick LeSabre that was reported stolen out of Tinton Falls and used that vehicle to drive to the Pep Boys to commit the shoplifting. Upon fleeing the store he left the stolen vehicle behind. He later had Rivero drive him back to Pep Boys to pick up the stolen vehicle. The manager of Pep Boys observed them return and notified police.
All four subjects were then turned over to Perth Amboy PD and later taken to the Middlesex County Jail. Ocean Township Charges will be signed against Meiklejohn for shoplifting, receiving stolen property and possessing a false ID and against Rivero for possessing marijuana, possessing drug paraphernalia and receiving stolen property. The 17-year-old was not charged.