Two (2) Connecticut women were arrested after Mahwah NJ police found them with more than $10,000.00 in stolen pet supplies.

34-year-old Alanna Prior and 37-year-old Jennifer DeJesus were stopped by a Mahwah police officer after he observed them speeding. When the officer searched their vehicle, he found several garbage bags filled with pet store supplies, including aquarium pumps, remote doggie trainers, and pet medication. During questioning, Ms. Prior and Ms. DeJesus admitted that the items were stolen.

Later, officers also found hypodermic needles and drug paraphernalia in the vehicle.

According to authorities, Ms. Prior and Ms. DeJesus are part of a larger “fencing” operation that targeted stores such as PetSmart, Petco, Michaels Arts & Crafts, Walgreens, JoAnn Fabrics, and AC Moore.

The two (2) women already had a warrant from Pennsylvania, where they allegedly stole more than $5,000.00 worth of products from a PetSmart store.

Ms. Prior and Ms. DeJesus were charged with receiving stolen property and trafficking in stolen property. Ms. Prior was also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of hypodermic needles.

If the women are convicted of third degree receiving stolen property, they could each be sentenced to as many as five (5) years in state prison.

For more information, see the NJ.com article entitled “Mahwah Police Catch Connecticut Women with $10K in Stolen Pet Supplies, Other Goods.“