On 04/16/2013 a Township woman reported to Police that her wallet had been stolen while shopping at the Manchester Plaza Shoprite. According to the female, she was checking out and left her wallet lying on the counter. By the time she went back to retrieve her wallet it was gone. The wallet contained blank checks, cash, and credit cards. The total amount of the purse and cash taken was said to be valued at $300.00. Shoprite Security cameras showed the wallet at the checkout counter after the female left. A short time later the cameras showed a white male picking up the wallet and placing it into his yellow shopping bag. After placing the wallet into the bag, this white male exited the store. Police later identified this male as 34 year old Township resident Matthew A. Grote who resides on Middlesex Street in the Pine Lake Park section of Manchester Township. Officer Paul Bachovchin located Grote and placed him under arrest without incident. Grote was charged with Theft and possession of stolen property. He was later released on a summons. The purse and all its contents were later returned to the rightful owner.
