Man Charged In ShopRite Robbery, Shoplifting At Bridgewater Stores: Prosecutor

BOUND BROOK, NJ — A Bound Brook man who claimed he had a gun was charged with robbing ShopRite in the borough and shoplifting at a Bridgewater store, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson announced.

Brian M. Sivetz, 26, of West Main Street, Bound Brook was charged with two counts of first degree robbery and one count of fourth degree shoplifting.

On Aug. 1 at around 9:28 a.m. an employee at ShopRite located on West Union Avenue reported that a white man, later identified as Sivetz, approached a cashier. Sivetz said he had a weapon and demanded money from the cash register. The cashier gave Sivetz an undisclosed amount of cash and Sivetz left the store and drove away in a dark-colored sedan, Robertson said.

Earlier that morning at around 8:51 a.m., it was found that Sivetz went to the Target located in the Bridgewater Promenade and handed a cashier a note that said he had a gun, according to the report.

As Sivetz reached over the checkout counter, he tried to grab cash from the register drawer, but the employee closed the drawer on his hands stopping him from taking any money. Sivetz ran out of the store and fled the area in a dark colored sedan, according to an investigation conducted by detectives from the Bound Brook and Bridgewater Police departments in conjunction with detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office.

On Aug. 4, Sivetz went to the Macy’s department store, located in the Bridgewater Commons Mall, and shoplifted five clothing items with a value of $280.50, according to the report.

The next day on Aug. 5, Sivetz returned to Macy’s and tried to return the shoplifted clothing items. When a store manager said they would not accept the returns without a proof of purchase, Sivetz walked away with the clothing items.

Before leaving the store, Sivetz grabbed two men’s shirts and two men’s dress ties off a display rack and put the items in a Macy’s shopping bag that contained the other shoplifted items, police reported.

While walking to his car, a store employee — who was monitoring the attempted return on a security camera — approached Sivetz. A struggle ensued as the associate attempted to stop Sivetz from leaving before the Bridgewater Police arrived. Sivetz dropped the shopping bag containing the stolen items and fled the area in a dark sedan, according to the report.

Early Sunday morning, Aug. 6, detectives arrested Sivetz at his home. He was processed and lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing.

(Image via Somerset County Prosecutor's Office: Brian M. Sivetz, 26, of West Main Street, Bound Brook)

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here.