Man Stole Thousands From Wawa Gas Customers In Freehold Twp.: Prosecutor

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP, NJ — A Newark man is accused of stealing thousands of dollars from customers at the Wawa gas station where he worked by swiping their credit cards through a device attached to his phone before using it to charge them for gasoline, the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office said Wednesday.

Patrick A. Brown, 48, of Newark, was indicted by a Monmouth County grand jury on 52 counts —13 counts each of third-degree credit card fraud, third-degree false uttering, third-degree theft, and fourth-degree credit card theft — in connection with the incidents that happened during his work shifts in August 2023, the prosecutor's office said.

The thefts took place during a limited amount of time in August 2023, with each following a similar pattern, authorities said. Brown would accept a credit card or debit card from a customer at the Wawa on U.S. Route 9 North in Freehold Township, then quickly swipe it through an attached device on his personal phone, funneling hundreds of dollars at a time into a bank account he controlled, before using the card to pay for the legitimate orders of gasoline, authorities said.

Freehold Township Police Sgt. Sean Foley led the investigation, the prosecutor's office said.

Brown was criminally charged the same week as the report of the initial theft, then charged with more offenses as additional victims became known, the prosecutor's office said.

He is due in court again on May 6.

Anyone with information about Brown’s activities, or anyone who believes they may have been victimized, is urged to contact Foley at 732-252-1950 or sfoley@twp.freehold.nj.us.