Nutley Shoplifter Leaves Key Fob Behind, Foils Own Escape: Police

Nutley, NJ – Authorities apprehended a suspected shoplifter at a Nutley store earlier this month after he left his car’s key fob behind at the scene of the alleged theft, police said.

According to the Nutley Police Department, on May 10, a loss prevention officer at the Franklin Avenue store allegedly noticed a male in a jogging suit and a turtle neck shirt open an eye drop box and conceal the contents on his person.

Store personnel then allegedly observed the man – a Butler resident - pay for a different type of eye drops at the store’s cash register and attempt to leave the scene.

However, the suspected shoplifter made an incriminating mistake as he left, dropping his key fob in the aisle, police said.

The man was unable to leave the store’s parking lot, as the store’s loss prevention officer had found the fob and taken it into their custody, police said.

The accused man allegedly told the security officer that he wanted to give back the merchandise, but was told that it couldn’t be accepted once he left the store with it, police stated.

Authorities charged the man with shoplifting – a disorderly persons offense – advised him of his court date and released him.

Sign up for Patch NJ email newsletters here.

File photo: Flickr Commons