Newark – On Sunday April 8, 2018 at approximately 7:00 a.m. the Newark Police responded to the Acme in Suburban Plaza for a report of a shoplifting in progress, according to Sgt. Gerald Bryda.
Bryda said as officers arrived on scene, Acme employees pointed out a Ford F150 pickup truck which was attempting to exit the shopping center.
Officers conducted a stop of the vehicle and contacted the operator, 34-year-old Thomas J. Hicks of Philadelphia, PA. Observed in the rear of the truck were two cushions from a patio set valued at $40, said Byrda.
Officers contacted employees and learned that Hicks arrived at the store and placed a patio set into the bed of his truck valued at approximately $582.00, according to Byrda. He then went into the store and filled a cart with items.
Employees stated that they were actively watching Hicks, who then abandoned the cart and left the store. Employees confronted him about the patio set in his truck and Hicks removed most of it, but then attempted to leave the area as officers were arriving on scene, said Byrda.
Hicks was issued a summons for Shoplifting and released from the scene pending a future court date in Newark Alderman’s Court #40.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Officer Spencer at [email protected] or 302-366-7100 ext. 3485.