Police Investigating Vehicle Burglary Nab Duo Shoplifting In Howell

OCEAN TOWNSHIP, NJ — A Farmingdale woman and a teenage girl from Howell Township who were being sought in connection with a vehicle burglary were arrested after detectives witnessed the pair shoplifting, Ocean Township poliice said.

The incident happened Feb. 17, Detective Lt. Timothy R. Torchia said. Members of the Ocean Township Police Department's Criminal Investigation Bureau were investigating a vehicle burglary at 1502 Route 35 in Ocean and developed information that led them to Sarah Mirphy, 29, of Farmingdale, and the 17-year-old girl from Howell, Torchia said.

While conducting their investigation, detectives witnessed Murphy and the teen commit shoplifting at a Route 9 business in Howell. Both were arrested and taken to the Howell Township Police Department to be processed, Torchia said.

Murphy was charged with conspiracy to commit shoplifting and possession of drug paraphernalia in the Howell incident. She was charged with burglary, theft and possession of stolen property in the Ocean Township incident, he said,

Murphy was taken to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution pending her first court appearance. Her vehicle was seized pending civil forfeiture proceedings because it was used in the commission of a crime, he said.

The 17-year-old was charged with possession of hypodermic syringes and shoplifting in he Howell Township incident, Torchia said. She was released to a parent pending her initial appearance in Family Court.

Responding officers were Detectives Steven Walker, Jesse Orbach, Gregory Martone, Christopher Brady, Detective Sergeant Patrick Martin and Investigator Jason Lester, he said.

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