This report is based on information received from the Prosecutor’s Office.
CAPE MAY – Cape May County Prosecutor Robert L. Taylor and Chief Anthony Marino of the Cape May City Police Department announce the arrest of two robbery suspects stemming from an incident that occurred in Mantua.
On June 26, Mantua Police Department responded to an armed robbery outside a Lowes Home Improvement Store located on Woodbury-Glassboro Road in Sewell. Stolen during the robbery was a credit card that was later found to be used in the City of Cape May on this same date. The suspects in this robbery were described as a Hispanic male and a white female who were driving a white Ford Taurus.
On June 27, in a seemingly unrelated incident, detectives from the Cape May Police Department received a report of a stolen 2016 Land Rover from the 400 block Central Avenue in Cape May Point.
On June 27, Cape May Police detectives received information that these two crimes may be related and a joint investigation was initiated by detectives from the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office, along with the Cape May, and Mantua police departments.
As a result of this investigation, the stolen 2016 Land Rover from Cape May Point and the White Ford Taurus used in the Mantua robbery were recovered and court authorized search warrants were executed on both vehicles. Items of evidentiary value were recovered from the white Ford Taurus.
Identified as a result of this joint investigation was William Baberick, 21, of Haddon Heights, and Mercedes Stockton, 22, of Willingboro, who were located in the 300 block South Lake Drive in Cape May Point.
Baberick was charged with possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, third degree, credit card theft, third degree, burglary, third degree, and theft, third degree. Baberick was processed and lodged within the Cape May County Correctional Center, pending court proceedings.
Stockton was charged with credit card theft, third degree, burglary, third degree, and theft, third degree. Stockton was processed and released with summons pending court proceedings.
According to Prosecutor Taylor, persons convicted of a third degree crime are subject to a term of three to five years in New Jersey State Prison.
Additional charges are pending from the Mantua Police Department and Prosecutor Taylor stated this is an ongoing investigation and urges citizens who may have information concerning these crimes to contact the Prosecutor’s Office at 609-465-1135, Cape May City Police Department at 609-884-9500, or anonymously through the Cape May County Sheriff’s Tip Line at cmcsheriff.net and click on anonymous tip, or through the Cape May County Crime Stoppers at 609-465-2800.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
