Shoplifter Captured After Falling Off His Bicycle

Not Mark Lawrence

Mark A. Lawrence, 52, of Lake Como, was arrested by the Ocean Township Police Department last evening after fleeing from Target of Ocean on a bicycle, according to a statement by Det. Lt. Timothy Torchia. He was taken into custody after falling off the bicycle and putting up a brief struggle.

Officer Ryan Krug responded to a shoplifting in progress call at Target and observed the suspect, later identified as Lawrence, cycling away. Officer Dean Schooch spotted Lawrence near Asbury Circle.

Lawrence was in possession of numerous bottles of fragrance valued at $200.00 which were allegedly stolen from Target. Torchia told MMM that none of the bottles broke when Lawrence fell off the bicycle and thus, he did not smell like perfume when incarcerated at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in Freehold. He was charged with shoplifting, obstruction of justice and resisting arrest and is being held on $10,000 bail plus $301 on a contempt of court warrant out of Neptune City.

Lawrence was arrested in 2007 by the Wall Township Police for indictable shoplifting, according the The Asbury Park Press.