The Manalapan Police Department arrested two Manalapan residents for the robbery and assault which occured at Target on Friday, Jan. 20 yesterday afternoon. As a result of an investigation led by Detectives Leonard Maltese and Detective Thomas Mantle, police apprehended Berron West and Cortney Appelbaum, both of whom reside at 324 Oak Knoll Drive in Manalapan Township.

West, a 42-year-old black male, was charged with robbery, simple assault and conspiracy to commit shoplifting and criminal attempted shoplifting. Appelbaum, a 32-year-old white female, was charged with conspiracy to commit shoplifiting and criminal attempted shoplifting.

According to an arrest warrant issued by police, Appelbaum and West conspired about the crime and Appelbaum and West both placed merchandise into a shopping cart which West later attempted to remove from the store.

West allegedly got into a fight with two Target employees as he tried to leave the store with the shopping cart without paying for the items. The employees were injured during the physical altercation.

Both West and Appelbaum are currently in Monmouth County Correctional Institute in default of bail; West's bail is set at $140,000 and Appelbaum's bail is set at $80,000.

West and Appelbaum tried to steal baby formula, diapers, and baby clothing from the Target located within the Epicentre Shopping Center on Rt. 9 South. The value of the merchandise the pair was attempting to shoplift is exactly $653.99, according to police.  The Old Bridge Township police also assisted in the investigation.