Shoplifter Threatened to Shoot Without a Gun, Prosecutor Says

A man who shoplifted batteries from the  in Watchung allegedly told employees who were detaining him that he would shoot them, though he did not have a weapon, according to the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office.

Brian K. Belles, 44, of Roselle Park, was charged with first-degree robbery Monday, according to Somerset County Prosecutor Geoffrey D. Soriano.

Soriano said authorities responded to the store at approximately 2:24 p.m. on Monday after receiving a report of an individual in possession of a gun.

According to Soriano, Home Depot's loss prevention officer reported to that he had approached Belles after observing him remove lithium ion batteries, valued at $357, from packaging and leaving the store without paying for them.

When Belles attempted to flee, Home Depot employees helped the loss prevention officer capture and hold Belles despite his struggling, Soriano said. During the struggle, Belles reportedly told the employees that he would shoot them if he wasn't released, Soriano said.

Police arrived to find Belles in custody, but no weapons were found on him, Soriano said.

One of the store employees reported a laceration on his hand, but there were no other injuries in the incident, according to Soriano.

Belles was turned over to Somerset County Jail, with bail set at $150,000 cash by Superior Court Judge Robert Reed, sitting in Somerville, Soriano said.