Man Stole $3,500 In Cigarettes From Wawa: Brick Police

BRICK, NJ — A Toms River man has charged with shoplifting after say he took $3,500 worth of cigarettes from Wawa and then returned to the store three days later.

Robert Rizzotti, 62, was arrested Nov. 1 at his home in Toms River, Brick Patrol Officer Victoria Finelli said.

Police were called to the Wawa at 116 Brick Blvd. at 7:37 p.m. where employees reported a shoplifting incident, Finelli said.

Surveillance video showed a man leaning over the cashier counter and grabbing a large brown box, then leaving the store. The box contained several cartons of cigarettes with an estimated value of $3,500, she said.

At about 8 p.m. on Nov. 1 the man returned to the store, and Brick Township Street Crimes Unit detectives were able to identify him as Rizzotti, Finelli said. He left the Wawa before officers responded, but was found at his home, with help from Toms River Police Department patrol units. Further investigation led to the retrieval of the stolen items and he was arrested, she said.

Rizzotti was taken to Brick Township Police Headquarters and released on a summons charging him with shoplifting, she said.

Click here to get Patch email notifications, or download our app to have breaking news alerts sent right to your phone. Have a news tip? Email karen.wall@patch.com Follow Brick Patch on Facebook.