Thief shoves hands in cash, confuses cashiers to rob ShopRite

Newton - At 4:45 p.m., on Thursday July 20 an unknown white female entered the Shop Rite on Water street. The suspect appears to be in her 50’s and stands 5’3” to 5’6” tall and was difficult to understand. She proceeded to the express checkout line with two items and paid the clerk with a twenty dollar bill and then asked for change for a fifty. She requested two twenties and a ten for the fifty. The clerk became confused and the suspect then reached into the cash register and took several large bills. She handed most of the money back but kept approximately two hundred dollars unbeknownst to the cashier. She then went to ShopRite Liquors and asked the clerk for a pack of cigarettes. She spoke broken English and confused the clerk when asking for specific denominations in change. Again, the subject reached into the cash register and a struggle ensued with the clerk who thought all the money was returned to the register. However, the subject was able to steal approximately $1,200.00 in cash by quickly palming a wad of cash from the drawer and putting it in her pants pocket. The cashiers didn’t realize the theft had occurred until their drawers came up short at the end of the day and surveillance cameras were reviewed. Anyone with information on the identity of the actor or may have noticed what vehicle the suspect left in is asked to contact the police department at (973) 383-2525 or e-mail at detectives@newtonpolice.org.