Budd Lake woman arrested in tip-box theft caught on video

Tips from the community — many of them seen on social-media sites — helped lead to the arrest of a suspect in a tip-box theft from Mount Olive Bagels, according to the Mount Olive Police Department.

Township resident Jennifer Flarhety, 35, of Budd Lake was arrested and charged with theft of moveable property Wednesday, according to police. The arrest followed several media reports, including New York TV news stations, on Tuesday that shared a video posted by Mount Olive Bagels that showed a woman stealing the clear plastic tip box from its front counter on Sunday.

That Facebook post received more than 1,500 shares by Tuesday morning, prompting posted comments that a woman of similar description was said to have stolen tip jars from two bagel shops in Boonton. Mount Olive police would not confirm if Flaherty was a suspect in those or any other local crimes.

The Boonton Police Department did not immediately respond to calls for comment.

But after interviewing the owner of Mount Olive Bagels, viewing surveillance video of the theft, and obtaining tips from township residences, Mount Olive Police Det. Anthony Gardner's investigation developed Flaherty as a suspect for the Mount Olive tip jar theft.

After learning that Flaherty had an active warrant for $265 out of Roxbury Municipal Court, Gardner located her and took her into custody. Following an interview, she was charged with theft and failure to make disposition of a controlled dangerous substance.

Flaherty was later released on her own recognizance pending a court hearing.

READ MORE: Alleged Morris tip-jar thief caught on video

The surveillance video clearly shows a woman waiting until the counter was left unattended before grabbing a tip box from the counter, hiding it under a garment she was carrying and exiting the store.

The video was shared with police and posted on Facebook by Mount Olive Bagels on Sunday.

By Tuesday morning, the post had more than 100 comments and 1,500 shares, and at least two other bagel shops commented on the post by saying the same woman stole their tip jars on Friday.

"We only posted it so people would know what happened, so it wouldn't happen to them," said owner and township resident John Kalavriziotis, who opened the restaurant with his wife, Maria, on June 11.

Later Tuesday, employees of two Boonton bagel shops say they believe the same woman stole their tip jars on Friday.

"These people also hit us and at least two other places in Boonton that we know of. Best of luck!" Boonton Bagels and Deli posted on the Mount Olive Bagels Facebook post on Monday.

An employee of Boonton Bagels and Deli on Myrtle Avenue in Boonton confirmed a woman bearing a similar description and clothing to the suspect in Mount Olive stole their tip jar from the counter on Friday, escaping with about $55 to $60 in tips.

"My wife has a sister who works at another bagel shop in Boonton and they called us to say this woman stole theirs," the man said. "She sounded familiar and when we looked for our tip jar, it was gone."

Around the corner on Wootton Street, an employee of Hot Bagels and Deli said Tuesday that a woman wearing a pink shirt and black slacks — similar to the woman in the Mount Olive Bagels video — was suspected of stealing their tip jar, which she estimated held about $60 to $70 in tips. Kalavriziotis said the Mount Olive theft occurred on Sunday and was discovered as they were closing for the day. After contacting the police, they discovered the theft had been recorded by security cameras.

"We remember her," Maria Kalavriziotis said of the suspect. "She was here a good seven to 10 minutes and didn't buy a thing. She was on the phone the whole time and anytime we asked if she was ready to order, she kept saying she was waiting on a call."

The suspect let other people get in front of her several times, but at one point, she made her way to the counter when no one else was present.

"She waited until we were all doing something, then she took it," Kalavriziotis said.

Kalavriziotis said she estimated the clear plastic tip box had about $20 to $30 inside. Employees who are given tips directly are allowed to keep them, she said. The money deposited in the tip box was being collected to disperse evenly as end-of-the-year bonuses "for the whole crew, out front and in back," she said.

"We just wanted to thank everyone that has shared and posted about this," Mount Olive Bagel posted on Facebook late Monday night. "We have several leads to who it may be and have passed it along to the police department. We never realized that social media could have such a big impact. We hope that if she is caught, that she thinks twice about stealing from anyone. It's not about the money, but about the principle behind the situation. It is never right to take what does not belong to you. We hope that she gets the help that she needs to try and better her life."

Staff Writer William Westhoven: 973-428-6627; wwesthoven@dailyrecord.com.