iPods Worth $8,700 Stolen, Alleged Thieves Caught

Three men have been charged with theft after allegedly stealing $8,700 worth of iPods Tuesday morning from the Apple store in the , said.

Pedro Lopez, 48, of Newark, Kenneth Torres, 39, of Fellsnere, Fla., and Samuel Perez, 40, of Belleville, were each charged with theft after being arrested in Clifton shortly after the theft, police said.

According to Wayne Det./Capt. James Clarke, Lopez entered the Apple store during a private seminar at about 8:15 a.m. Lopez lingered in the store for a few minutes until an employee told him the seminar was private, police said.

Torres then entered the store, went behind the counter and allegedly took 37 iPod Touches and left, Clarke said.

The employee realized what had happened and called the police. The men were seen entering a silver Nissan Pathfinder and headed toward Route 46 East, Clarke said.

Clifton and Little Falls police stopped a vehicle matching the description on Route 3 East, Clarke said.

Officers reported seeing the iPods in plain view inside the vehicle, Clarke said. According to Clarke, 36 of the devices were recovered and returned to the store.

The three men were released on summonses. They are scheduled to appear in Wayne Municipal Court on Aug. 30.

Lopez also had an active warrant out of Wayne for $268, Clarke said.

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