Nicholas Santiago, a 39-year-old man from Barnegat, has admitted to a series of crimes in Stafford Township, including the robbery of a convenience store on Route 72 and multiple shoplifting incidents at the local ShopRite. The incidents occurred during May and June of 2024. According to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D.
Billhimer, Santiago entered the convenience store around 12 a.m. on May 27, 2024, brandishing a small knife and demanding money, cigarettes, and other items from an employee. The staff member complied, and Santiago fled the scene. Authorities later identified Santiago as the suspect in the robbery and connected him to several shoplifting incidents at the Stafford ShopRite throughout May and June 2024.
Additionally, Santiago was identified as a suspect in another robbery that took place at a convenience store in New Gretna, Burlington County, on May 31, 2024.
Local man linked to Stafford crimes
On June 18, 2024, Santiago was arrested at his home in Barnegat in connection with the New Gretna robbery and taken to the Burlington County Jail.
The following day, he was charged with the Stafford Township robbery and shoplifting offenses. Santiago was then transferred to the Ocean County Jail on June 22, 2024, where he has been detained since. Santiago pled guilty to robbery and shoplifting charges related to the Stafford Township incidents.
At his sentencing, scheduled for March 28, 2025, the state will seek a five-year prison term for the robbery charge and a concurrent four-year term for the shoplifting charge, both to be served in New Jersey State Prison and subject to the terms of the No Early Release Act. Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledged the efforts of Assistant Prosecutor Lynn Juan, the Stafford Township Police Department, and the New Jersey State Police in their cooperative investigation, which led to Santiago’s apprehension, guilty plea, and upcoming sentencing. The charge related to the New Gretna robbery remains pending in Burlington County Superior Court.
