Paramus Police Arrest Three in Garden State Plaza Theft Ring

Residents of the Garden State Plaza area saw three adults taken into custody on Thursday, October 29, after a coordinated effort by Paramus police and mall security. The arrests resulted in the recovery of merchandise worth almost four dollars from multiple retail locations within the complex.

Paramus Police Chief Robert M. Guidetti stated that plainclothes officers from the Crime Suppression Unit initiated the operation around 6:16 p.m. Officer Matthew Mulick observed Andres M. Rincon, 35, of Whitstone, concealing goods in his clothing and exiting a store without payment. Luisa Gonzalez, 24, of Fresh Meadows, and Michell Calderon-Varela, 28, of Whitstone, were positioned outside as lookouts.

The three suspects moved through the shopping center, and officers, working alongside loss prevention teams, reported additional thefts. At 7:11 p.m., the group entered a vehicle in the parking lot. Detective William Stallone and Sergeant Keith Bland arrested the trio at that time.

Police conducted a search of the suspects and their vehicle, finding stolen items and tools used to defeat security systems. Investigators recovered 31 pieces of merchandise from six different stores. The total value of the goods was $3,925.80. The items came from Lululemon, Nordstrom, Abercrombie, Aritzia, Alo Yoga, and Windsor.

All three individuals face charges of second-degree organized retail theft. Calderon-Varela also received a disorderly persons charge for possessing anti-shoplifting devices. The group was transported to the Bergen County Jail for processing.