Alleged Thief: I Stole for Experiment on 'Doing the Right Thing'

Cops say umbrellas suffer in the name of research and a cop goes way overboard to get a date in this week's weird New Jersey police news.

Each week, Patch combs through the more shocking, surprising and often absurd alleged criminal acts and police-related incidents that unfold throughout New Jersey. Here’s what went on this week for “OMGs from NJ PD.” Stealing in the Name of “Science:” And the winner of Patch’s just-made-up Chutzpah of the Year Award goes to … a Piscataway woman and man! We bestow this prestigious award on the pair for their explanation for allegedly stealing a restaurant’s outdoor umbrella: It was part of a social experiment on “doing the right thing.” Shockingly, police didn’t take kindly to the woman's note left behind at the scene mentioning the alleged experiment, promising to return the umbrella and wishing the one-umbrella-less restaurant owner “a …

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9:11 am on Monday, July 30, 2012

"Patch fashionistas also demand to know how she got her hands on a reported $40 Coach purse." It's been a while since last time I giggled over a Patch article!   more ›

OMGs from NJ PDs

New Jersey’s Own Supermarket Sweep

A trio in West Deptford allegedly tried to take a ShopRite for $1,500 in merch.

Each week, Patch combs through the more shocking, surprising and often absurd alleged criminal acts and police-related incidents that unfold throughout New Jersey. Here’s what went on this week for “OMGs from NJ PD.” Hide and Seek: There have to be better hiding spots than a car trunk. Mount Arlington police approached the lone sedan in a parking lot near Fireman's Field late Tuesday night. A Pine Brook woman was found in the trunk. Lynn A. Wilson, 48, was charged with providing false information and creating a public alarm. A Herb Garden… of Sorts: It’s one thing to take pride in your garden but make sure your vegetation is of the legal variety. Manchester police say Kevin K. Sangermano, 53, decided to grow marijuana in planters outside …

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Man Accidentally Given $3K, Puppy Stolen

Also, $20,000 in prom dresses go missing

Each week, Patch takes a peek at some of the more surprising, shocking, stunning and occasionally silly police-related incidents reported throughout New Jersey for "OMGs from NJ PDs." Mo' Money: Police say a bank customer in Cinnaminson got more than he bargained for ... and that's the problem. He came to a teller with a $300 check, but the teller goofed and handed him a clean $3,000, police said. When the bank contacted him the next day to say it had made an error, the man told the bank he'd lost the envelope ... which didn't sit right with authorities, according to police. He's been charged, because apparently, this isn't really how it works. Gives New Meaning to "Made Off Like a Prom Dress:" Actually, police say someone made off with …

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Drivers Everywhere But on the Road

One winds up on the train tracks, another on a front lawn.

Each week, Patch takes a peek at some of the more surprising, shocking, stunning and occasionally silly police-related incidents reported throughout New Jersey for "OMGs from NJ PDs." On the Wrong Track: Contrary to popular belief, there is no "wrong side of the tracks." Well, not unless you count the top side. A driver who made a wrong turn wound up on the train tracks paralleling Route 17, leading authorities to shut down New Jersey Transit traffic on the line, according to Hasbrouck Heights Police. It took police about an hour to remove the vehicle from the tracks. We're not sure how long it took onlookers to remove their palms from their faces. Not Quite a Smoking Gun, But Close: You think smoking's bad for you? It's even worse if you'…

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Horse at McDonald's, Bad Guy in the Sky

Also, someone made off with a whole lot of cooking oil. Slick.

Each week, Patch takes a peek at some of the more surprising, shocking, stunning and occasionally silly police-related incidents reported throughout New Jersey for "OMGs from NJ PDs." Big Wheels Keep on Turning: A runaway van veered into oncoming traffic on the White Horse Pike, crashed against a guard rail and nearly struck a small gathering of people at the edge of Newton Lake in Camden County (our title for this section would have worked better if it was a river onto which the van was almost rollin'). Amazingly, no one was hurt, but police say an intoxicated driver may have been asleep at the wheel. At Least it Wasn't a Cow: Scotch Plains Police say a horse escaped from Watchung Stables. After a brief chase, he was cornered by Scotch …

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Pot in the Mail, Bears in the Street, Burglar Next Door

Also, the infamous train fighter gets a ticket to jail.

Each week, Patch takes a peek at some of the more surprising, shocking, stunning and occasionally silly police-related incidents reported throughout New Jersey for "OMGs from NJ PDs." Special Delivery: A Hopatcong man had almost a pound of pot from California delivered to his home through the post office, police said. We assume that little buzz from licking the stamp just wasn't doing it anymore. Da Bears: Two black bears were seen fighting each other outside a Bloomingdale residence last week, and they reportedly damaged two vehicles before leaving the scene. Police didn't get there until after the scuffle was over, so we may never know what caused the fight. Unless one of them was really a Packers fan. Mi Casa No Es Su Casa: There are at…

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A Juice Box Thief, Some Tricky Texting

Also, Kinnelon police deal with a real pisser.

Each week, Patch takes a peek at some of the more surprising, shocking, stunning and occasionally silly police-related incidents reported throughout New Jersey for "OMGs from NJ PDs." Some of this week's reports: From the Mouths of Babes: It's bad enough when someone breaks into a school. But Belleville police say someone not only did that—the perp stole an American flag and a bunch of kids' juice boxes. One has to wonder how much Hi-C even goes for on the black market. Not anything watered down. The good stuff. You Say Potato: Things Not To Do: Touch yourself inappropriately in public. Make unsolicited sexual remarks to people. Urinate on yourself. Do much worse than urinating on yourself. The alternate title for this list: Instructions a…

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A Cow on the Run, a Bowling Ball in the Air

Also, police say a man made a lot of bad moves — and drinking from a cell toilet was just one of them

Each week, Patch takes a peek at some of the more surprising, shocking, stunning and occasionally silly police-related incidents reported throughout New Jersey for "OMGs from NJ PDs." Some of the recent reports: On the Hook: It was bad enough, police say, when a man crashed into several of a West Orange BP's gas pumps, its ice box and a wooden bench. But the man allegedly made matters worse when he took aim at the attendant's booth with, of all things, a bowling ball. In this case, it was one strike, you're out. Police arrested the man, after reportedly observing that he looked "overly anxious" (well, one doesn't usually lunge a bowling ball at a gas station booth when one is calm) and was making incoherent statements. They say the damage …

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Leg on Fire, Fence Full of Bullet Holes

Also, one woman shows us an even worse way to get a DWI charge

Each week, Patch takes a peek at some of the more surprising, shocking, stunning and occasionally silly police-related incidents reported throughout New Jersey for "OMGs from NJ PDs." Some of the recent reports: Into the Lion's Den: Driving under the influence is generally a bad idea. Driving under the influence in front of an officer? An even worse idea. And driving under the influence to a whole building of them? Well, we can't say that one's on our to-do list. Yet Kinnelon police say a Pompton Plains woman did just that, when she showed up intoxicated to pick up a police report—then, presumably, became the subject of another one. I'll Be Back: Well, he didn't lie, per say. Toms River police say a resident of a Red Roof Inn told the …

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Stealing Real Dough, Theft By the Book

Also, a copier or scanner allegedly nets Newark man $165K — for a while.

Each week, Patch takes a peek at some of the more surprising, shocking, stunning and occasionally silly police-related incidents reported throughout New Jersey for "OMGs from NJ PDs." Some of the recent reports: Book 'Em: A former Richard Stockton College of New Jersey employee has been charged with stealing more than $300 worth of textbooks from a student's backpack and then selling them back to the college bookstore. Maybe we can classify this one under intellectual property theft. D'ough! Lots of criminals steal dough. But usually, not the literal kind. Bistro 1051 of Clark had seen its morning bread delivery go missing twice, so the owner installed security cameras, and caught a man swiping a $75 bag of bread from the front of his …

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