The Wawa store at 116 Brick Boulevard. (Photo: Daniel Nee)
A local man was charged with shoplifting after he allegedly reached over the counter at a Brick Township Wawa store and stole $3,500 worth of cigarettes.
The incident occurred Oct. 29 at about 7:30 p.m. at the Wawa located at 116 Brick Boulevard. Officers had been called to the store, and were able to view surveillance footage that showed a man lean over the cashier counter and grab a large brown box, then exit the store. The box, police say, contained a large amount of carton cigarettes with an estimated value of $3,500.
Three days later, on Nov. 1 at about 8 p.m., the Brick Township Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit (SCU) detectives were able to identify the suspect as Robert Rizzotti, 62, of Toms river.
Rizzotti left the Wawa prior to officers responding, but with the assistance of Toms River patrol units, the SCU located him at his residence in Toms River. A further investigation led to the retrieval of the stolen items which led to Rizzotti’s arrest.
He was transported to Brick Township Police Headquarters and released on a summons for shoplifting.
