Staff Stops Shoplifters at Belleville Drug Store, Police Say

Two shoplifting attempts at a Belleville drug store were thwarted by store staff in the last week, police said Friday.

Around 3 pm Feb. 4, Melvin Rivera was seen by the management of Walgreens, 325 Washington Ave., attempting to make off with a number of items, police said. When the manager confronted him, Rivera, a 25-year-old Newark resident, dropped the items and ran from the store. He was caught by responding Belleville police a few blocks away at Rutgers Street.

He was charged with shoplifting and possession of a hypodermic needle and held on $2,500 bail.

A few days later, around 3:30 pm Feb. 7, a man wearing a black jacket with the word “Baltimore” printed on it entered the store and tried to steal a lighter, gum and other items. Once again a  store manager confronted the man, who dropped the items and ran. He was still at large as of Friday, police said.