
Two women have been charged with several retail thefts in Middletown and Newtown townships.
Middletown Township police were dispatched on August 26 around 12:55 p.m. for a retail theft in progress at the Burlington Coat Factory store on Lincoln Highway. The flash over the radio included suspect descriptions consistent with those from other area retail thefts, according to court papers.
Responding officers were advised by staff at the store the suspects had stolen a large amount of merchandise and fled in a red Dodge Neon, police said.
Officers spotted the vehicle a short time later at the Langhorne Square Shopping Center not far away on East Lincoln Highway. The suspects were near the Marshalls’ store with shopping bags, police said.
In court papers, police said the two suspects fled and a chase went from the area into Trenton, where Sasha T. Howard, 30, and Mahogany Danielle Caldwell, 26, both of Trenton, were arrested.
As the duo fled from Middletown Township, a detective and police commander were approaching the vehicle. Howard accelerated quickly, “nearly crushing” the commander, police said.
A search of the vehicle led to $1,132.45 worth of goods from Burlington Coat Factory, and $1,063 worth of merchandise from Marshalls being recovered, police said.
Further investigation led to Caldwell telling detectives she worked with Howard on other retail thefts, police said.
Howard told investigators the retail thefts spanned from April and August in Middletown and Newtown townships. The total of stolen goods was estimated to be more than $5,400 and ranged from designer jackets to sunglasses.
Caldwell was charged in mid-October with conspiracy and eight counts of retail theft. Howard was charged last week with aggravated assault, fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, conspiracy, and eight counts of retail theft. Caldwell was released on $50,000 unsecured bail, and Howard was being held in the county correctional facility on $75,000 bail.
Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.
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