Toms River Police Arrest Four Who Stole Over $9,200 in Merchandise from ULTA

Toms River Police made four arrests in 24 minutes of suspects who allegedly stole $9,221 in merchandise from ULTA on Hooper Avenue.

There were several units responded to ULTA on Tuesday afternoon around 1:20 PM, Toms River Police said in a statement, for a reported theft in progress to find that the people responsible had fled on foot before entering a grey Mitsubishi with out of state license plates.

Police received a description of the four suspects and combed through the area and spotted them standing outside a vehicle in a parking lot near ULTA.

When an officer approached the individuals, they took off again, ignoring his commands for them to stop.

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Backup was then called and the teamwork of TRPD officers led to the arrest of Frank Greene, 22, of Bronx, NY.

Right after his arrest came the arrest of a 17-year-old from the Bronx who had run into a home on Bay Avenue and then out the back door after police found him in the basement.

Unbeknownst to the teen, police were waiting outside to arrest him.

Shaquana John, 24, of Brooklyn and Sereniti Butler, 20, of the Bronx were then found in a wooded area near the scene.

The call came in of the robbery at 1:20 PM. By 1:44, all four suspects were in handcuffs.

Police said the group stole a number of items including cologne and security tags which ran up their heist to $9,221.

Sereniti Butler is charged with shoplifting, contempt/obstruction, and burglary.

Frank Greene and Shaquana John are charged with shoplifting and contempt/obstruction.

The juvenile suspect is charged with shoplifting and burglary and was released to his guardian.

Butler, Greene, and John remain in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.

"This group may be involved in numerous other instances of this type in the tri-state area, and are currently being investigated by multiple agencies," Toms River Police Chief Mitch Little said in a statement.

Chief Mitch Little also commends his officers "for their quick response and apprehensions, as well as, their dedication and professionalism during this incident."