Couple Shoplifted From Rt. 18 Kohl's, Police Say

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — A Trenton-area couple was arrested this past Sunday at the Rt. 18 Kohl's in East Brunswick, after police said they shoplifted from the Kohl's on Saturday and then returned again Sunday to do it again. They also allegedly had drug paraphernalia and a hypodermic needle on them.

The duo, a man and a woman, were first seen by Kohl's store security at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10 inside the store cutting security tags off of clothing and putting the items in their bags. When police got there, they were told the suspects had already fled the scene in a blue Saab.

Then at noon on Sunday, Kohl's loss-prevention officers called police again, to say that the man and woman were back inside the store and the blue Saab was back in the parking lot.

Police arrested Leah Driver, 31 of Willingboro and Edward Valpais, 46, of Trenton. A search of their car found it allegedly contained merchandise from both shoplifting incidents. The man and woman were charged with shoplifting, possession of stolen property, possession of burglary tools, possession of a hypodermic syringe and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Both were remanded to the Middlesex County jail.

Photo of the Rt. 18 Kohl's in East Brunswick from Google Earth.