Police Arrest Three in Alleged Shoplifting Ring

Three people were arrested over Memorial Day weekend in what police called a "large-scale" shoplifting ring targeting Acme.

About 8 p.m. Saturday, Ocean City police responded to the supermarket in the 3400 block of Bay Avenue, where the store's loss-prevention officer had three people in custody. 

The loss-prevention officer told police that the three had been identified in a a flyer circulated to alert Acme stores about the shoplifting ring. 

One of trio would act as a lookout while another would put items in a shopping cart, strategically arranging the products so that pricier items were hidden beneath lower-priced merchandise. One of the alleged shoplifters would then head for the store's automatic doors with the cart. 

On Saturday, the trio tried to leave Acme with more than $400 in merchandise, police said. On May 19, they were believed to have taken $600 worth of merchandise, police said. 

Arrested were:

• Jerry Murphy, 32, of Rio Grande, charged with shoplifting, conspiracy, and contempt of court in connection with an unrelated warrant. 
• Ashlee E. Reighn, 24, and Robert A. Reighn, 32, both of the Delmont section of Maurice River Township, Cumberland County. They each were charged with shoplifting and conspiracy. 

Murphy was held in the Cape May County jail on $15,000 bail; Ashlee and Robert Reighn were held on $20,000 full-cash bail.