Princeton Police Blotter: Scams, burglary, and shoplifting incidents

Police are investigating a series of incidents reported between March 18 and March 24, including scams targeting residents, a burglary that led to a crash involving a patrol vehicle that was previously reported on, and multiple shoplifting cases.

Scams and identity theft reported

Police responded to multiple reports of fraud and identity theft, including an incident in which suspects impersonated a bank employee.

On March 18, a Pardoe Road resident reported an attempted identity theft after being contacted by individuals claiming a fraudulent credit card had been opened in her name. The victim was instructed to provide personal information and displayed her driver’s license during a video call before becoming suspicious. No financial loss was reported.

On March 19, a resident reported losing $18,000 in a theft by deception case. Police said the victim was contacted by a man posing as a bank employee who claimed the account was compromised. The victim was instructed to withdraw cash and hand it to a woman in a State Road parking lot. The suspect took the money and fled in a black Mercedes SUV.

Police also investigated an identity theft report on March 21 at a residence on Park Place. The victim discovered an unauthorized credit card account, opened in 2015, listed on her credit report with a balance exceeding $30,000. The victim said she did not authorize the account and has not suffered any financial loss.

Home invasion, crash under investigation

Police are still investigating the March 20 residential burglary on Coniston Court that also led to a crash involving a patrol vehicle.

Officers were dispatched at about 7:54 p.m. after a 911 caller reported possible intruders inside a home. When officers arrived, they encountered multiple suspects exiting the residence. The suspects fled in a vehicle, police said. The vehicle did not appear to be stolen.

A short time later, the suspects’ vehicle collided head-on with a responding Princeton police patrol car on Great Road. The suspects then abandoned their vehicle and fled on foot.

The officer driving the patrol car was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The police officer is recovering and is in good spirits, police said. No one inside the home was injured.

Police conducted a search of the area with assistance from a K-9 unit and a drone, but the suspects were not located.

The investigation is ongoing.

Shoplifting incidents reported

Officers responded to two shoplifting incidents reported on March 23 and March 24.

In one case, two women are accused of stealing $1,440 worth of merchandise from a business on Hulfish Street. Police said the incident occurred on March 21 between 5:20 p.m. and 5:25 p.m. The suspects were described as white females, both approximately 40 years old and dressed in black.

In a separate incident at McCaffrey’s on North Harrison Street, police said a man stole $507.60 worth of food items, including meat and seafood, on March 21 between 12:38 p.m. and 1 p.m. The suspect, described as a Black male about 50 years old, fled in a gray four-door sedan.

Criminal mischief reported

Police also responded on March 24 to a report of criminal mischief at a business on Nassau Street.

According to police, a man became upset when employees were unable to process a package return and slammed the door multiple times, causing about $100 in damage. The suspect was described as a white male in his mid-40s wearing a brown jacket and gray pants.

The store manager declined to pursue charges.