Cliffwood Beach Woman, 29, Arrested for Shoplifting, Drug Possession, After Fleeing Kohl's in Holmdel

A 29-year-old Cliffwood Beach resident has been arrested and placed in the Monmouth County jail after an incident on Sunday at a Kohl’s Department Store in Holmdel, police are reporting.

Christy C. Dube has been charged with drug possession and shoplifting, as well as resisting arrest, after Holmdel police were dispatched to the Kohl’s on October 20 at approximately 4:00 p.m., after the store reported a female subject shoplifting items, and then attempting to return the stolen items for store credit.

Many stores have changed their return policy to that of store credit only, due to similar shoplifting instances. Now, however, criminals have found a way to cash in on the store credit policy as well, with many pawn shops accepting cards with store credit, and giving the card owners half the amount of the card’s worth. This work-around is one reason shoplifting is still prevalent among low-level criminals looking to make a quick dollar.

Dube is alleged to have stolen $489.97 in merchandise from Kohl’s, according to Monmouth County court records. While police were in route, they were advised that the female subject had fled the store into the wooded area near Veteran’s Park in Hazlet, and had been seen discarding the brightly colored shirt she had been wearing in an attempt to conceal her identity, according to Holmdel Police Lt. Michael Smith.

Holmdel Patrolman J. Martin arrived at the area a short time later and found the female subject, identified at the scene as Dube, attempting to conceal herself in the woods, according to Smith. After placing her under arrest, Dube was found to be in possession of Alprazolam (Xanax) pills, suspected crack cocaine, and a cut piece of straw containing a white powder residue, according to court records.

Dube was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, a third degree crime. She was also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, shoplifting, and resisting arrest by flight.

Dube was transported to Monmouth Count Correctional Institute on $7,500 bail, no 10% option. Her first court appearance is scheduled for October 22.

Holmdel Police Sgt. Hughes and Ptl. Moore were also on scene and provided assistance to Patrolman Martin.

An arrest is not a conviction, and every defendant is presumed innocent until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.