Man Arrested for Stealing Ground Beef, Mozzarella Sticks and Batteries

Springfield Police arrested a 30-year-old man after allegedly shoplifting $28 worth of groceries from ShopRite in Millburn at about 6 p.m. on Jan. 13, Millburn police officials said. 

According to police report, Michael Meyer, of Springfield, entered the food store with an empty black handbag. 

The general manager, John Guderian, told police he recognized Meyer from a previous shoplifting incident and watched him place items in his shopping cart.

When Meyer paid for the items in his cart, Guderian told police he noticed Meyer's black handbag was full and zipped up. 

When approached, Meyer refused to open the bag, claiming it contained personal items, according to the police report. 

Guderian told police he continued to ask to see inside the bag, but Meyer said, "I only took ground beef. Come on man, you can have it back."

Meyer then grabbed the items he legally bought, leaving his black bag and rode away on his bicycle, police said.

Guderian told police Meyer's bag contained two packs of ground beef, frozen mozzarella sticks and five packs of AA batteries, totalling $28.17.

Springfield Police heard Meyer's description and arrested him riding his bicycle with yellow Shop Rite bags on Mountain Avenue in Springfield.

Meyer was charged with shoplifting and released with a court date.