Last month, Watchung police arrested a Piscataway man who allegedly shoplifted $32.00 worth of items from Walmart.

Walmart Loss Prevention associates observed 41-year-old Dashawn Thompson selecting items and placing them into a bag. When Mr. Thompson attempted to leave the store without paying for the items, he was intercepted by a Watchung police officer.

Initially, Mr. Thompson provided the officer with a number of fake names. Later, at Watchung police headquarters, officers learned Mr. Thompson’s proper name. Officers also located a number of outstanding warrants for Mr. Thompson.

In New Jersey, shoplifting is governed by N.J.S.A. 2C:20-11. Shoplifting can be classified as either an indictable criminal offense or a disorderly persons offense, depending on the value of the goods stolen. Here, Mr. Thompson is accused of stealing items valued at less than $200.00, which may be classified as a disorderly persons offense. If convicted, Mr. Thompson faces up to six (6) months in the county jail.

After his arrest, Mr. Thompson was taken to Somerset County Jail in lieu of bail.

For more information, see the NJ.com article entitled “Shoplifting Report Yields Arrest on Warrants in Watchung.“