Suspects Sought In String Of Credit Card Thefts In Monmouth, Ocean Area: Police

HOWELL, NJ — Howell Township police are seeking the public's help in identifying two people who they say stole credit cards on three separate occasions and then used the stolen cards for fraudulent purchases.

Howell police said the suspects — a black male and a black female — entered employee lounges at the locations and stole credit cards from employees' wallets.

The first incident happened Oct. 9 at the Staples store in the Friendship Plaza in Howell, Detective Sgt. Christian Antunez said. The male in the photograph was seen on surveillance footage going into the employee lounge and removing credit cards from an employee's wallet, he said. The credit cards were later used at the Target in Howell, he said.

The second incident also happened Oct. 9, Antunez said. In that case an unknown suspect went into Famous Footwear at the Howell Commons shopping plaza on Route 9 in Howell, entered the employee lounge, and took credit cards from the victim's wallet and used them at Target in Brick, he said.

The third incident occurred Oct. 11 at Freehold Raceway Mall, Antunez said; the victim's credit cards were removed from her wallet in the employee lounge of a store at the mall and later used at the Target in Howell, he said.

It is believed all the incidents involve the same suspects, Antunez said. The suspects are a black female possibly in her early 20s and a male possibly in his 50s. The male is wearing a “bucket” style hat during every crime. These individuals are suspected of similar crimes in several other towns in New Jersey, he said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Howell Township Police Department Detective Corporal Nancy Carroll at (732)938-4575 ext. 2884 or by e-mail at ncarroll@howellpolice.org.

Photo via Howell Township Police