Trio Charged In Distract-And-Grab Thefts At Brick Stores

BRICK, NJ — Three people have been charged in connection with a string of distraction thefts of purses and wallets at Brick Township stores, and are suspects in similar thefts in other New Jersey towns, Brick police said.

Oswaldo Uribe-Acosta, 35; Salvia Beraun-Villanueva, 27, and Oscar Lopez-Salcedo, 58, all of Paterson, were charged Tuesday with theft by unlawful taking, theft of property lost/ mislaid, and computer criminal activity in the thefts that happened in May, Police Chief David Forrester announced.

In May Brick police received multiple reports from victims that their wallets and purses had been stolen from them or their shopping carts inside retail stores through the township in what they called a "distraction pickpocket theft." The female suspect would distract the victim, while one of the male suspects would remove the wallet or purse from the victim's person or the shopping cart.

The suspects would leave the store, then change their clothing/appearance and travel to various stores throughout the town (Trader Joe's, Target, Best Buy, and Costco) to use the stolen credit cards to purchase multiple items.

"These suspects had committed several other similar incidents throughout the state," police said. "This should serve as a reminder to always check your surroundings while shopping and never leave your belongings unattended while inside retail stores."

The Brick Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Stafford Township Police Department, Montvale Police Department, and Cherry Hill Police Department collaborated on the investigation, police said.