Shoplifting Duo Run From Cops Carrying $4K In Items From Bergen County Mall: Police

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A South Carolina man and a Maryland woman were arrested Wednesday as they tried to leave a Bergen County mall with several thousands dollars in merchandise, police said.

Paramus police said that Richard Paul Williams, 44, of Washington, S.C., and London M. Sutton, 29, of Severna Park, Md. were charged with shoplifting and other offenses.

Police said that around 3:20 p.m. on Wednesday, the police and Westfield Garden State Plaza Security were alerted to a shoplifting incident at the Loft store.

A suspect, later identified as Richard Williams, had entered the rear employee stock area and was opening employee lockers, police said.

Williams fled after a sales associate told him to leave, police said.

Police then saw Williams and a "female companion" enter Neiman Marcus, police said.

They went into the restricted stockroom area, police said.

Williams then headed to the Burberry Coat section, took merchandise valued at $4,834.00, and placed it near a register, police said.

That's when the woman, identified as Sutton, took the coats and left the store, police say. Then, the duo left the mall.

Police followed and approached Williams, who tried to run, police said.

Detective Nicholas Perna and Sergeant Ryan Hayor chased and caught him, police said.

Williams was charged with burglary, eluding on foot, and shoplifting. Sutton was charged with shoplifting and hindering apprehension.

Both were taken to the Bergen County jail, police said.