Blotter: Shoplifting on Irvington Avenue

Maplewood Police made two arrests for shoplifting this past week in the Irvington Avenue shopping district.

The first occurred on Friday, March 16, at approximately 5:46 p.m., when Officers J. DeFazio and P. Klebaur responded to the Extra Supermarket at 719 Irvington Avenue. Officers placed Kenneth L. Grant, 39, of Newark, in custody after learning from employees that he had attempted to leave the store with six packages of bacon and three packages of hot dogs valued at a total of $48.12.

Grant was charged with shoplifting and obstruction of justice. Police also discovered that he was a wanted person out of Irvington and Bloomfield. He was transported to the Essex County Jail.

On Saturday, March 17, Officers DeFazio and B. Rodrigues responded to an Irvington Avenue store for the report of a shoplifter. A worker at the store had seen a woman walking up and down the aisles placing items into a bag before trying to leave the store. The police determined that Keshonda Ballamy, 38, of East Orange, NJ had attempted to shoplift Maxwell House Instant Coffee, Lysol Spray, Vaseline Intensive Care Lotion and Secret Deodorant. In total, the items were valued at $55.52. Ballamy was arrested and charged with shoplifting and obstruction of justice.

Two other items are on this week's blotter, provided courtesy of Lt. Dean Naddeo:

March 14, 2012: Receiving Stolen Property. At approximately 2:45 a.m. officers responded to the area of Lancaster Avenue on a report of a suspicious male walking through backyards. Sgt. T. Perna soon located a male matching the description hiding under a vehicle in a residential driveway. Officers conducted a field investigation and determined that Lonnie Askew, 40, of South Orange, NJ was in possession of several items discovered to be stolen from a vehicle owned by Lancaster Avenue resident. Askew was arrested on charges of receiving stolen property, trespassing and hindering his own apprehension.

March 14, 2012: Theft from Auto. On 3/14/12 at 8:41 a.m. patrols responded to 74 Parker Ave on the report of items missing from a vehicle. The caller reported that unknown subject had entered a vehicle which was parked in her driveway. The caller indicated that she parked the vehicle at 6:00 p.m. and went to sleep at 11:00 p.m. She checked the vehicle at 8:40 am on this date and noticed that the glove box was open with items scattered about the drivers and passengers seat. She further reported that the only item missing is her iPod.  The caller reports that the vehicle was left unlocked.