Bloomfield Police officials have apprehended a 28-year-old man who is believed to be involved in a series of theft incidents across Essex County.
Police say the arrest of Mr. identified as Matthew Rodriguez came after officers received a Target Alert Service notification for a stolen motor vehicle in the vicinity of 77 Bloomfield Avenue.
Upon responding to the alert, Bloomfield officials said officers spotted the stolen vehicle idling in a parking spot in front of the Walgreens store on Bloomfield Avenue.
To their surprise, police say Rodrigues emerged from the store carrying a Walgreens bag of stolen merchandise worth $1990.95. He swiftly entered the stolen vehicle.
Without hesitation, Bloomfield officers took immediate action and apprehended Rodriguez.
He was placed under arrest and subsequently transported to Bloomfield Police Headquarters for processing.
Public records revealed that Rodriguez has a history of multiple charges related to theft, shoplifting, and assault dating back to 2019. His alleged involvement in stealing merchandise from various stores across Essex County raises concerns about the extent of his activities and the potential impact on local businesses.
The police are investigating thoroughly to determine if Rodriguez is linked to other theft cases in the region.