Southampton Town police have arrested two alleged shoplifters and two alleged accomplices who they say ran off with about $1,500 in merchandise from T.J. Maxx in Bridgehampton on the afternoon of Nov. 30.
Two women “entered the store and loaded up shopping carts with items” and then exited the store without paying, police said in a release. They got into a white sedan with New Jersey license plates and fled, police said.
An officer responding to the call attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the driver continued west on Montauk Highway into Water Mill for several miles, then reversed course and headed back east. “While driving, passengers in the vehicle were observed throwing clothing items out the windows,” police said.
The driver eventually lost control of the vehicle and struck a police car at the intersection of Hayground Road and Montauk Highway. Police later found wire cutters, allegedly used to remove antitheft tags from the merchandise, and recovered all of the missing items with the help of Southampton Village police officers.
Four people were arrested: Tnia Dickerson of Bellport, 25; Patrice Gordon of Selden, 27; Ilaysia Keller of Amityville, 20, and Elisha Wisdom of Hempstead, 24. They were each charged with fourth-degree grand larceny and fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, which are felonies, and possession of burglar’s tools, a misdemeanor. Ms. Gordon was also charged with aggravated unlicensed driving and reckless driving, both misdemeanors, and multiple other traffic violations.
The suspects were processed at police department headquarters in Hampton Bays and were released on their own recognizance to await future court dates.