Two arrested for thefts, other incidents at mall
One stole 200 pairs of underwear; the other, a polo shirt
BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer

EDISON- Edison police reported two incidents at the Menlo Park Mall that started as simple shoplifting but escalated into robberies.

On Friday,March 14, around 6:10 p.m., a woman was arrested and charged with robbery at the Limited Too. The manager working at that time told police three women and two men were observed walking into the store and acting in a suspicious manner, according to the police report. The manager allegedly saw one of the women, Ivelys Lopez, 19, of Newark, bending over and placing a pair of underwear into a large shopping bag, according to police. The manager asked her what she was doing, and the woman began walking out of the store. The manager blocked the exit and walked the suspect to the back of the store, where the manager called the police.

At that point, the suspect allegedly shoved the manager into the wall and tried to leave the store again, but mall security caught her and brought her back. A search of her bag revealed about 200 pairs of underwear, with a total value of approximately $1,400, according to the police report. Lopez was transported to the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center, North Brunswick, with bail set at $10,000.

On March 15 around 9:45 p.m., Mayuska Sutherland, 18, of Brooklyn, N.Y., was charged with robbery at the Macy's department store. She allegedly was observed by security officers taking a men's polo shirt off the rack and placing it into her purse. A security guard followed her out, and then identified himself as security. Sutherland tried to run, according to the police report, but the guard caught up to her and was able to bring her back to the store. She allegedly then turned and hit the guard in the arm, and as he attempted to gain control, began biting and scratching as she attempted to pull away, according to police. She was eventually placed under arrest. Her bail was set at $50,000.