A Union County police officer is accused of using fake barcodes to pay as little as $1.50 for items worth $39.99, authorities say.
Acting Union County Prosecutor Grace Park announced that a Union County police officer was charged with stealing more than $675 from stores over a three-month period. (NJ.Advance Media file photo) ELIZABETH -- He is a Union County police officer who made several arrests but now he faces charges of stealing more than $675 from stores in four towns using fake barcodes, authorities said Friday.
Blake Clay, 33, of Rahway, was charged Thursday with third-degree theft for stealing merchandise over a three-month period earlier this year, acting Union County Prosecutor Grace Park announced in a statement.
She said the thefts occurred at Walmart and Target department stores in Clark, Edison, Linden and Woodbridge on various dates from early February through late April.
Clay is accused of visiting the store and using barcodes he created so that significantly lower prices were rung up on the register, the prosecutor said.
The officer allegedly picked up items ranging in price from $15.99 to $39.99, but he used the phony barcodes to register prices of $1.50 to $4.50 for each item, Park said.
She did not give any details of how the alleged thefts were discovered.
Clay was served with summonses Thursday afternoon, authorities said.
He was suspended without pay from his job pending resolution of the charges, Park said. He was earning $83,308 annually, according to state records.
Clay is due for a first appearance in court on Wednesday.
In 2009, Clay was credited with arresting two people on charges of possession of marijuana, cocaine and a loaded handgun.
An attempt to reach Clay for a comment was unsuccessful.
Third-degree charges carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison upon conviction.
Tom Haydon may be reached at thaydon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Tom_HaydonSL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.