Group helped cops apprehend shoplifter who had coronavirus. Now they’re all at risk
Howell NJ April 10 2020
Four Howell Police officers and a group of people were exposed Sunday afternoon to a trio of shoplifters, one of whom knew they had tested positive for the coronavirus, at a local Lowe’s, police said.
The officers were called to the store at 2 p.m. and were met by a group of people who detained the shoplifters who had attempted to steal over $2,000 in power tools, according to a Facebook post by the Howell Police Department.
The store’s security team had been made aware of the trio after they recently targeted other stores, the post stated.
The three people, none of whom were identified in the post, were arrested and taken to the police department in patrol cars.
However, while en route, one of them admitted that they had tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, police said
“Due to the trio having been together for an extended period of time during their stealing spree, including being in the same vehicle, it was assumed all three were positive,” police said in the post. “By that time, four Howell officers were being treated for exposure. All three were inside the store without taking any type of precautions to protect others. The civilians who assisted now have to worry as well.”
The four officers were placed on administrative leave and must self-quarantine, authorities said. They will be out at least a week pending the results of their COVID-19 tests.
All three men were charged with third degree theft and released, police said.
“This is another example why it is so important to abide by the ‘Stay at Home’ order. If you need to go out, wear some sort of approved respiratory mask or facial covering,” Howell Police Chief Andrew Kudrick said in a statement.
“There are some out there like these three who don’t care about how their conduct affects you. Even if it results in you becoming seriously ill.”
