ShopRite, Target, Macy’s — This thief hit them all, Somerset cops say

BOUND BROOK — The man police say robbed a supermarket this month has also been connected to an attempted robbery where he had the register drawer slammed on his hands and an altercation with an employee at a third store.

Brian M. Sivetz, 26, has been charged with robbing the ShopRite on West Union Avenue on Aug. 1.

Sivetz, who was caught on the store's surveillance video, told the cashier he was armed and demanded money. After he was given cash, he left the store and drove away in a dark-colored car, police said.

While investigating the supermarket robbery, police in Bound Brook and Bridgewater worked with the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office to determine that around 40 minutes before Sivetz robbed the ShopRite, he had tried to rob the Target in the Bridgewater Promenade. Police say Sivetz gave a note to a Target cashier claiming he had a gun. When Sivetz tried reaching over the counter and into the cash drawer, police say the cashier slammed the drawer shut on his hands. He then ran out of the store and drove away, police say.

Sivetz has also been connected to an incident at the Macy's at the Bridgewater Commons Mall three days later when they say he took five pieces of clothing valued at $280.50. Police say he returned to the store the following day and attempted to return the items to the store but was told by a manager they could not be without proof of purchase.

When his attempt to return the clothes was unsuccessful, police say Sivetz began to leave the store but not before taking more clothes off the rack and putting them in a Macy's bag with the items he had previously stolen. After leaving the store, police say Sivetz was confronted by a store employee who was watching him on a security camera.

While the employee was unable to stop Sivetz from leaving the scene after a physical struggle, police say he did drop the bag of stolen items before driving away.

Sivetz was arrested at his home Aug. 6 and charged with two counts of first-degree robbery and one count of fourth-degree shoplifting. He was taken to the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing after being processed.

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Contact reporter Adam Hochron at 609-359-5326 or Adam.Hochron@townsquaremedia.com