Police arrested three males after they allegedly fled from a store in Marlton to Mt. Laurel.
The following information is on file with the Evesham Township Police Department:
In October, police say a dozen South Jersey towns were allegedly targeted by an organized Philadelphia crime crew who were targeting cell-phone stores, stealing thousands of dollars in merchandise.
Police say the trio would allegedly have one member distract the store employees, while the others utilized cutting tools to remove security measures on the high-end cell phones.
Based on the intelligence provided from other agencies, police say Evesham officers were strategically deployed inside the department’s Data Driven Approach to Crime and Traffic Safety (DDACTS) zone.
According to police, DDACTS integrates location-based crime and traffic data to establish effective and efficient methods for deploying law enforcement and other resources
With the officers in place, on Nov. 18, an officer walking in the Marlton Specialty Shops, 300, North Route73, observed three males matching the description of the alleged theft crew quickly exiting the Sprint Store.
When the officer began to approach the males, police say they allegedly took off running while the officer gave chase on foot. Police then say the males fled behind the building where an alleged getaway car was waiting.
Other officers who were patrolling inside the DDACTS Zone began responding to the area and observed the vehicle allegedly fleeing the parking lot.
When the officers attempted to stop the vehicle, police say driver allegedly refused to stop and continued to drive recklessly while disobeying the officer’s signal to pull over.
Due to the inherent risk of the stop, the officer quickly terminated the pursuit.
A short time later, police say the vehicle was involved in a collision on Route 73 North and Church Road in Mt. Laurel, and afterward, all three males allegedly fled the crash on foot into a wooded area.
In a collaborative effort between the members of the Evesham, Mt. Laurel and New Jersey State Police, officers established a large perimeter.
Once the perimeter was established, Evesham Police K-9 Moose arrived on location and began to follow the scent of the individuals.
Police say K-9 Moose tracked the three males for approximately three quarters of a mile before locating them hiding in heavy brush near the New Jersey Turnpike.
Police say the male once again allegedly refused to comply with officer’s orders and fled across the busy turnpike.
Evesham officers then gave chase and apprehended the males in a wooded area prior to them reaching a nearby residential neighborhood.
The vehicle the males were operating was impounded and a search warrant application is pending.
Arrested:
A male, age 30, of Philadelphia, was charged with third-degree shoplifting, second-degree eluding, fourth-degree criminal mischief and fourth-degree obstruction. He was released on his own recognizance.
A male, age 27, of Philadelphia, was charged with third degree shoplifting, fourth-degree criminal mischief and fourth-degree obstruction. He was released on his own recognizance.
A male, age 27, of Philadelphia, was charged with third-degree shoplifting, second-degree eluding, fourth-degree criminal mischief and fourth-degree obstruction. He was released on his own recognizance.
