‘Tis The Season: Brick PD Cracks Down on Shoplifting, Drug Use at Popular Stores

Brick Twp. Police car. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

The Brick Township police department’s Street Crimes Unit said Wednesday they have calculated an uptick in shoplifting over the past month as the holiday season approached, with several of the suspects charged in the incidents also facing drug offenses.

According to police, crackdowns on shoplifting were focused on the Target big box store and the Ulta beauty store in town.

The arrests included:

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Dec. 1:

Darien Wagner, 49, of Brooklyn, N.Y., was arrested for shoplifting at Target. Wagner was processed and released on a summons.

Dec. 6:

Jacquelyn Best (Photo: Ocean County Jail)

Jacquelyn Best, 38, of Toms River, was arrested for shoplifting at Ulta. Best was processed and lodged in Ocean County Jail. Adrianna Nieves, 19, from Lakewood, was also arrested and charged with shoplifting at Ulta on December 6, 2023. Nieves was processed and released on a summons.

Dec. 15:

Brick Police received a call from Target reporting a shoplifting in progress. The SCU responded and arrested Sara Reagoso, 34, of Browns Mills, and Ronald Kay III, 32, of Pemberton.

Reagoso was charged with possession of heroin, possession of drug paraphernalia, shoplifting, possession of shoplifting tools, receiving stolen property, resisting arrest and obstruction.

Kay was charged with possession of shoplifting tools, receiving stolen property, possession of heroin and methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

During the investigation, both Reagoso and Kay were found to be operating a stolen motor vehicle. The motor vehicle was processed by Brick Police and returned to the owner. Both Reagoso and Kay were processed and lodged in Ocean County Jail.

Dec. 21:

Brick officers responded to Ulta for a shoplifting in progress. Ptl. James Albanese arrested Daniel Leon-Forero, 39, of Queens, N.Y. Leon-Forero was charged with shoplifting and possession of shoplifting tools.

SCU was requested to assist with a search warrant application on the suspect’s vehicle which was subsequently impounded. Leon- Forero was lodged in Ocean County Jail.

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Best was the only suspect to remain in the Ocean County Jail by Dec. 27, according to a search of jail records, and therefore the only suspect whose mugshot was available.