Crime & Safety

Theft and Assault at Kohl's

Return scam at Kohl's turns into a robbery and assault.

East Brunswick Police arrested two individuals after a return scam turned into a robbery and one of the suspects assaulted an employee at Kohl’s in an attempt to leave the store on Friday.

According to police, Brent Lucas, 29, of Staten Island, N.Y., was charged with robbery, theft by deception and possession of marijuana, and Natasha Bellamy, 26, also of Staten Island, was charged with theft by deception.  

According to police, Patrolman Michael Methner responded to Kohl’s on Route 18 after receiving a report that two individuals performed a return scam with fictitious receipts.  When confronted by store employees the male suspect, later identified as Lucas, assaulted an employee as he fled.  Lucas and his female partner, later identified as Bellamy, left the store and fled in a red Suzuki. Sgt Chris Soke observed a vehicle matching the description heading south on Route 18 heading into Old Bridge.  Sgt. Soke conducted a motor vehicle stop and quickly learned that the occupants in the car, Lucas and Bellamy, were the suspects from Kohl’s.  Both occupants were taken into custody.  Items stolen from Kohl’s were found in the vehicle at the time of the stop. 

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The employee of Kohl’s was not seriously injured and refused any medical attention.

Lucas was taken to the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Facility in lieu of $50,000.00 bail. Bellamy was taken to the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Facility in lieu of $2,500.00 bail.

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