Hopewell police blotter: Unlawful possession of high-capacity ammunition magazines, gas station safe theft, grocery store shoplifting top incident list
On July 12, a police officer responded to the Gulf Gas Station at 127 North Route 31 for a reported burglary. The gas station manager reported that $4,609.79 was stolen from the store safe. The theft is believed to have occurred between July 5 and July 12. The investigation is ongoing. On July 13, an attendant at the same gas station reported another theft. The attendant reported that an unidentified female driver pulled into the gas station and received $40.02 in fuel. She then left without paying. She was driving a black Mercedes Benz sedan. The investigation is ongoing.
While police were conducting a routine motor vehicle stop of a Black Suburban vehicle on the afternoon of July 12, they allegedly discovered that a Levittown, Pa. resident had a handgun, high-capacity ammunition magazines, and ammunition inside the vehicle. The man, William Beerhalter, was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of large-capacity ammunition magazines. He was arrested and transported to police headquarters for processing. He was released from custody after he was processed pending a hearing in Mercer County Superior Court. The weapon and accessories were seized by police.
Police received a report about criminal mischief at Trap Rock Industries on July 19. Someone entered the quarry property by cutting a chain link fence. Graffiti was painted on equipment on the property. The investigation is ongoing.
A Hopewell Township resident was a victim of fraud and identity theft and reported it to police on July 19. The resident said their personal information was stolen and used to open charge accounts that racked up large balances. The resident learned about the problem when the resident began to receive calls from a debt collection center. The resident has not been held liable for the outstanding balances on these accounts due to the fraudulent nature of the transactions, police said.
A Princeton resident was arrested on July 20 because he had an active warrant out of his hometown. The Princeton man, a resident of Clay Street, was driving a grey Honda sedan when he was pulled over for a routine motor vehicle stop on Federal City Road near Rosedale Park, police said. After police discovered he had an active warrant for his arrest out of Princeton, he was placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters for processing. He was charged with contempt of court and later released with a new court date.
On July 21, a Hopewell Township resident reported to police that he was a victim of fraud and identity theft. Someone charged $5,000 to his Home Depot credit card. The man also told police that he received a credit card application follow-up from Chase Bank when in fact he did not apply for any additional lines of credit. The man was advised to continue to monitor his credit activity and report. Police said the man has suffered no financial loss at this time.
A woman went grocery shopping at the ShopRite in Pennington on the morning of July 22 and loaded her grocery carts with $1,160.37 of groceries, then allegedly went through the self-checkout line and waived a receipt without making a payment, according to staff members at the grocery store. She then left and was not caught.
Another shoplifting incident took place on July 20 at the Stop&Shop on Denow Road. A man allegedly stole 12 bags of shrimp valued at $360 from the store. The surveillance footage was reviewed and given to police.
Krystal Knapp is the founding editor of Planet Princeton. Follow her on Twitter @krystalknapp. She can be reached via email at editor AT planetprinceton.com. Send all letters to the editor and press releases to that email address.