Police: Shoplifter Had 'Physical Confrontation' with Stop & Shop Employee

A Boonton woman was arrested in Franklin Lakes this week after police say she attempted to steal from the borough’s Stop & Shop, and then had a physical fight with an employee who tried to stop her, Franklin Lakes Police Detective Lt. John Bakelaar said Wednesday.

According to Bakelaar, Stop & Shop reported to cops at about 4:23 p.m. Tuesday that a man and woman had tried to shoplift from the store. When a loss prevention employee confronted them, they got into a “physical” altercation with the employee, fled the store, and drove off in a pick-up truck, Bakelaar said.

After cops tracked down the car, they arrested Kaila Gibbons, 20, and charged her with robbery, Bakelaar said. She was released on bail, police said.

Though Bakelaar said he does not know exactly what was stolen from the store, he did say the items were worth about $220.

The Franklin Lakes Detective Bureau is continuing to investigate the incident, police said.