Crime & Safety
Thieves Swipe $39K From Morris County Stores: Police
The two suspects stole around $4,000 in stolen perfumes from Ulta and $35,000 in products from other establishments, according to police.
MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — Police arrested and charged two suspects believed to have stolen more than $39,000 in merchandise from various stores in the Roxbury Township area.
Lasha Kurtanidze, 27, of Sayreville and Diana Murzatayeva, 36, of Brooklyn, New York, were arrested and charged with shoplifting, receiving stolen property and conspiracy, police said.
According to the Roxbury Township Police Department, Cpl. Brett Barbera responded to the Ulta Beauty store in The Shops at Ledgewood Commons on Nov. 10 in response to a report of shoplifting.
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Kurtanidze and Murzatayeva allegedly fled the scene in a vehicle, which Police Patrolman William Turner intercepted on Route 10 West.
A search of their vehicle revealed $4,000 in stolen Ulta Beauty perfumes and $35,000 in other perfumes, shoes, and clothes suspected of being stolen from adjacent retail locations.
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Chief Dean Adone praised the officers for working rapidly together to track down the car before it left Roxbury and for safeguarding the town's retail shops from further damage.
Police departments across Morris County have issued similar warnings over the last couple of months. In the neighboring town of Chester, police previously released information about four shoplifting incidents that occurred at the Chester Ulta Beauty store, which is located at 213 Route 206, Ste. 380.
"Our biggest problem that we are experiencing and have been experiencing ever since COVID-19 is spikes in shoplifting, fraud and other internet crimes, which we are aggressively investigating and have made quite a few arrests," Police Chief Ryan McNamee said at a town council meeting earlier this year.
According to the police, the public can assist officers in incidents of shoplifting. Any physical description, license plate number of a car they may be driving, or other information you can share is always welcome and appreciated.
"We will continue to make retail theft a high priority in Roxbury to create a secure and safer environment for everyone," police said.
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