Cops: Duo Tried Leaving Target With $731 in Unpaid Goods

A Hackettstown duo was arrested and charged Wednesday with trying to steal hundreds of dollars worth of merchandise from the Washington Township Target store, police said.

At 12:24 p.m. police responded to the store on Route 46 for a shoplifting incident, Lt. Doug Compton said. Officer Robert Brobst arrived on scene and spoke with Target Loss Prevention, who advised there were customers in the store who had been accused of shoplifting in the past, Compton said.

Moments later, Loss Prevention and Brobst witnessed Andrew Byron, 47, and Tracy Byron, 49, both of Hackettstown, try to exit the store with multiple items of merchandise in their shopping cart without making a purchase, Compton said.

Both Byrons were apprehended and arrested, and were charged with shoplifting. The total amount of goods in the cart was $731.14, Compton said.

Both were released pending a court appearance.