Police Charge Two Women in Pocketbook Theft from Bar

NORTH CAPE MAY — On Friday, April 17 at approximately 1:20 a.m., Lower Township police responded to CJ’s American Bar and Grill for a call reporting the theft of a pocketbook.
As officers arrived on scene, they observed a female, identified as Melissa Lyston, 23, of the 200 Block of Apple Blossom Drive, throw a cell phone under a car in the front parking lot. Further investigation determined that the cell phone had been stolen from the bar area of the establishment.
Lyston was charged with Possession of Stolen Property. A search of Lyston’s belongings following her arrest, revealed 15 white pills, believed to be Vicodin. In addition to the Stolen Property charge, Lyston was also charged with possessing the pills without a prescription.
According to police, further investigation revealed that Jennifer Habecker, 22, of the 100 Block of Vacation Road, Villas, was in fact responsible for stealing the purse from a patron in the establishment then placing contents of the stolen purse into the toilet tank in the ladies room before throwing the purse over the fence behind the building.
Police recovered the purse and arrested Habecker for theft.
A search of Habecker’s belongings after her arrest revealed marijuana under 50 grams, a small scale, a marijuana cigarette, nine pills believed to be Zanex and five pills believed to be Vicodin. In addition to the theft charge, Habecker was charged with: marijuana possession, drug paraphernalia possession, possession of the pills without a prescription and she was also wanted on a contempt of court warrant out of Laurel Springs.
She was lodged in county jail in lieu of $15,000 cash bail.
Patrolmen Michael Szemcsak and Brian McEwing and S/O Michael Kennedy investigated the case.