Cigarette Theft Attempt Leads to Strong-Arm Robbery

An attempted theft of hundreds of dollars worth of cigarettes led to a physical confrontation, Belleville police said.

On Thursday, a white man with a ponytail ran into a Washington Street Walgreens and attempted to shoplift three cartons of Newport 100 cigarettes located behind the store’s front counter, police say.

A physical confrontation reportedly ensued when a cashier confronted the thief. Police said the cashier sustained minor injuries struggling over possession of the bag full of cigarette cartons.

The man reportedly ran south on Washington Ave. Police are investigating the incident.

The cigarettes were valued at $223.