Shoplifting Suspects Allegedly Engage Police in Pursuit

Shoplifting suspects driving a grey Ford Escape allegedly engaged a police officer in a chase Wednesday afternoon before being stopped on Route 59 and arrested for the thefts of electric tooth brushes and "mouth cleaning systems" from three Monroe pharmacies. The driver was also charged with allegedly stealing the vehicle.

The driver, Mark Adamo, 38, of Lexington Avenue in New Haven, was charged with conspiracy to commit sixth-degree larceny, sixth-degree larceny, engaging police in pursuit, reckless driving, failure to display a registration plate and third-degree larceny. He was held on $11,000 bond for a Thursday court date.

His passenger, Frank R. Frumento Jr., 35, of Campbell Avenue in West Haven, was charged with third-degree larceny, sixth-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit sixth-degree larceny. Frumento was released on a promise to appear in court on March 28.

Police Lt. Brian McCauley said Frumento had no bond because Adamo told officers Frumento had no idea what was going on.

At 1:40 p.m. on Wednesday, an employee of the Rite-Aid on Route 111 called police to report the theft of dental care products. Several minutes later, a similar shoplifting complaint was made by the Walgreens on the same strip, according to police.

As police were investigating the two thefts, a third shoplifting was reported at the Rite-Aid on Main Street.

A witness told officers that a white male who shoplifted, was driving a "grey Ford Escape" with no plate visible, police said.

An officer on patrol saw a vehicle fitting the description heading south on Route 25 before turning onto Judd Road, police said, adding the officer followed it until the vehicle stopped alongside the road and the driver opened the hatch at the back of the car.

As the officer pulled up behind him, police said the driver jumped in the car and fled, turning down Stanley Road.

The officer radioed the information to other responding units, and the suspect's vehicle was stopped after exiting Stanley Road and turning onto Route 59, toward Easton, according to a police press release.

Adamo and Frumento were placed under arrest and an inventory was taken of items stolen from the stores, which were in plain view on the back seat, McCauley said.

A license plate that belonged on the back of the vehicle was found in the rear cargo area, police said.

The police K9 unit responded, and police dog Gunner alerted on both driver and passenger front doors, McCauley said, adding the vehicle was towed to headquarters so detectives could obtain a search warrant and go through it more thoroughly.

McCauley said the amount and value of the stolen merchandise is undetermined at this time. 

The investigation determined that the owner of the vehicle, who was in Florida, had not given permission for Adamo to drive it, according to police.