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Shoppers and motorists were among those who looked on as the members of the shoplifting crew bolted from the Route 17 store with $12,000 worth of winter clothing around noon on Thanksgiving Eve, Paramus Deputy Police Chief Robert Guidetti said.
Fortunately, a Ski Barn employee had recognized the organized "Loyal" crew members from the week before and already called police.
Officer Jason Hrbek arrived first and nabbed T’kai Smokes-Davis, 19, of West Orange after he assaulted a store employee who tried to stop them from taking the Moose Knuckles and Canada Goose clothing, Guidetti said.
A second suspect, Nephihah Hamilton, 20, of Newark ran up Route 17 and was captured on East Glen Avenue by Lt. Brian Linden with help from Ridgewood police, the deputy chief said.
The third suspect, Andrew Estrada, 18, of Flanders bolted down southbound Route 17 before Officer Tom Holden nabbed him near the Panera at the Paramus Design Center, Guidetti said.
All three were taken to headquarters, where Detective Nick Luciano recognized Smokes-Davis from a previous theft of 44 Michael Kors handbags valued at $6,500 from the Off Fifth Avenue Outlet.
Smokes-Davis was charged in connection with that crime, as well as with robbery, shoplifting, conspiracy, resisting arrest, criminal attempt and possession of brass knuckles.
Hamilton and Estrada were both charged with shoplifting, conspiracy, resisting arrest and criminal attempt. Estrada also was charged with giving a false name to police by identifying himself as Anthony Thulin.
Hamilton spent two days in the Bergen County Jail before a Superior Court judge in Hackensack freed him pending future court action.
Both Smokes Davis and Thulin remained held in the county lockup on Monday.
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