Shoplifting Chaos Erupts in Luxury Home Store — Woman Charged After Resisting Arrest in Summit
It was supposed to be an ordinary afternoon inside one of Summit’s high-end home décor stores—a peaceful place filled with chandeliers, handcrafted ceramics, polished wood tables, and shelves stacked with designer candles. But the quiet elegance of the showroom shattered in seconds when a shoplifting incident spiraled into a dramatic confrontation that left customers stunned and employees scrambling.
The bodycam footage from Part 1 begins with an officer walking through the beautifully arranged store. The ambience is calm, almost serene. Soft lighting glows from chandeliers overhead, highlighting carefully staged dining sets and luxury pieces worth hundreds—sometimes thousands—of dollars. Shoppers browse casually, unaware that moments earlier, a woman had triggered a silent theft alarm.
Store staff had already alerted police to suspicious behavior. According to them, the woman moved quickly between displays, placing small but expensive items into her bag while pretending to examine others. Employees watched from a distance, attempting not to escalate the situation prematurely. But when she headed toward the exit—bag noticeably heavier—one worker stepped forward to intervene.
That’s when things escalated.
Instead of cooperating, the woman reportedly pushed past staff and tried to flee deeper into the store. By the time officers entered, she was attempting to hide among décor displays, weaving between chairs and large tables as if the furniture could shield her from responsibility.
The footage shows officers calmly making their way through the aisles, voices low but firm as they call out commands. Customers pause mid-conversation, some stepping aside, others clutching shopping bags a little tighter. The contrast is striking: a peaceful showroom holding a moment of real tension.
When officers located the woman, she didn’t surrender. Instead, she resisted—pulling away, arguing, and refusing to remove her hands from her bag. Employees stood nearby, watching as the officers attempted to de-escalate the situation. But the resistance only increased. At one point, she tried to turn and run again, forcing officers to step in and physically restrain her.
It was a dramatic scene in the middle of a store known for its quiet ambiance and upscale clientele.
Eventually, officers gained control, recovered the stolen merchandise, and escorted the woman outside, where she continued protesting loudly. The items in her possession included luxury fragrances, small décor pieces, and several high-value accessories—adding up to charges that went well beyond petty theft.
Residents of Summit reacted quickly online:
“This store is always so peaceful… can’t believe this happened here.”
“People really think they won’t get caught with cameras everywhere?”
“Resisting only makes it worse—why do people do this?”
The incident didn’t just involve shoplifting. The resisting component elevated the charges, creating a more serious legal situation for the woman involved. She now faces a combination of theft-related counts and obstruction-related charges—offenses that carry heavier consequences in New Jersey.
Store employees say they’re relieved no one was hurt. The officer’s bodycam footage shows a calm but firm approach, preventing what could have become a far more dangerous situation.
And this is only Part 1, meaning more of the confrontation—and possibly the arrest—unfolds in the next segment.