The suspect in a string of thefts, wearing different wigs. (Photo: TRPD)
A woman who has worn a series of wigs while allegedly committing a number of crimes involving thefts of wallets, pocketbooks and electronic items from vehicles has been caught by police, officials said.
The woman has been identified as Brooke B. Slade, 43, of Arizona. She was caught in Asbury Park Thursday afternoon just after 4 p.m., police said, attempting to make a withdrawal at a PNC Bank branch with fraudulent identification and stolen debit cards. While police were en route, the bank staff told dispatchers that they believed this was the same woman who attempted to commit fraud “at numerous locations earlier in the day.”
Upon arrival, Asbury Park Police Officer Lemar Whittaker noticed a dark, silver-colored Nissan sedan in one of the lanes to the drive-up window. Upon spotting the police, the woman drove off and fled the area, police said. Whittaker attempted to follow, however the driver made several evasive maneuvers which resulted in Officer Whittaker losing sight of the car.
A few minutes later, at 4:22 p.m., Asbury Park police received a call regarding a female trespassing at 601 Heck Street, which is in the same general area where the suspect’s vehicle was last seen, according to a statement issued Friday.
Prior to police arriving, the suspect fled the property through its parking lot. While in the lot, police said, she was seen removing a vehicle’s license plate and fleeing the area on foot.
Whittaker, being one of the responding units to Heck Street, was able to confirm the vehicle to be the same from the bank incident, and additional units saturated the area and were able to locate the woman in the 500 block of Asbury Avenue.
Slade is charged with eluding, two counts of receiving stolen property, possession of a controlled dangerous substance (Xanax with a prescription), trespassing and motor vehicle violations for reckless driving, driving without a license, two counts of failure to stop for a stop sign, fictitious plates, failure to signal and failure to maintain lane.
She was lodged in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution awaiting a court appearance.
