Cops: Man Stole $3,500 Worth of Cigarettes From Brick Wawa, Then Returned 3 Days Later

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.

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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.