4 Nabbed After $9,200 Theft From Ulta: Toms River Police

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Four people were arrested Tuesday and charged in connection with the theft of more than $9,000 in items from the Ulta Beauty store at the Ocean County Mall, Toms River police said Wednesday.

Frank Greene, 22, of the Bronx; Shaquana John, 24, of Brooklyn; Sereniti Butler, 20, of the Bronx, and a 17-year-old boy from the Bronx all are charged with shoplifting and the three adults also are charged with contempt/obstruction after they tried to flee, said Jillian Messina, media relations specialist for the Toms River Police Department.

Police recovered cologne, security tags and other items worth $9,222, she said. The group is being investigated in connection with "numerous other instances" of these kinds of thefts in the tri-state area, Messina said.

Police were called to Ulta Beauty about 1:20 p.m. for a report of a theft in progress, but Greene, John, Butler and the teen had left and driven off in a gray Mitsubishi with out-of-state license plates before police arrived, Messina said.

Police found the car in a parking lot a short distance away and saw four people matching the description of the suspects standing outside the car, but when Officer Anthony Paciulli approached, they took off again, ignoring his commands to stop, she said.

Police searched and found Greene a short distance away and arrested him, Messina said. to They saw the 17-year-old go into a nearby home on Bay Avenue, and found him in the basement, but he refused to surrender, instead running out through a back door right into two waiting officers, she said.

John and Butler were found hiding in woods nearby, and all four were under arrest by 1:45 p.m., Messina said.

Butler was charged with shoplifting, contempt/obstruction, and burglary; Greene and John were charged with shoplifting and contempt/obstruction. They are being held at the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing, Messina said.

The 17-year-old was charged with shoplifting and burglary and released to his guardian, she said.

"Chief Mitch Little would like to commend our officers for their quick response and apprehensions, as well as their dedication and professionalism during this incident," Messina said.

Click here to get Patch email notifications, or download our app to have breaking news alerts sent right to your phone. Have a news tip? Email karen.wall@patch.com Follow Toms River Patch on Facebook.