A Colombian man accused of carrying out a string of shoplifting incidents across New Jersey has now been arrested by federal immigration authorities in Newark.
The man, 38-year-old Guillermo Alejandro Cardozo-Quiroga, is facing serious legal trouble after allegedly being involved in a series of thefts that targeted popular retail chains in New Jersey.
Cardozo-Quiroga was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers on May 30 in Newark. His arrest comes after multiple theft reports were linked to him from different stores in the state, including Target and Macy’s, between March and May 2024.
According to court documents and police reports, the thefts involved high-value items and happened in multiple counties, including Ocean and Monmouth. Authorities said the total value of the stolen goods adds up to thousands of dollars.
Surveillance footage and witness statements helped investigators track Cardozo-Quiroga’s movements during the alleged crimes.
At one point, police found him hiding in the woods. He was later released, but authorities continued tracking him. Eventually, ICE stepped in and arrested him, citing both his immigration status and his connection to ongoing theft investigations.
Before the ICE arrest, Cardozo-Quiroga had already been arrested and released after one shoplifting incident in Ocean County. But instead of staying out of trouble, he allegedly went on to commit more thefts.
Reports mention that he used self-checkout lanes to scan only a few low-cost items while walking out with expensive goods hidden in bags.
Investigators also said he had been using different stores as targets, moving between locations to avoid suspicion. Some stores reported that he came back multiple times, each time stealing more items. The stolen merchandise included electronics, home goods, and personal care products.
Authorities confirmed that Cardozo-Quiroga is not a U.S. citizen and has overstayed his visa. This made him eligible for detention by ICE under federal immigration laws.
ICE officers stated that the arrest was part of their ongoing efforts to locate and detain individuals who pose a threat to public safety, especially those with criminal records or ongoing investigations.
A spokesperson from ICE mentioned that Cardozo-Quiroga’s case will now go through both immigration and criminal courts.
While the immigration case will determine whether he remains in the U.S., the criminal cases will address the multiple charges of shoplifting and theft lodged against him by local police departments.
Local law enforcement agencies, including police from Toms River and Freehold Township, have been working closely with ICE to track Cardozo-Quiroga’s movements and gather evidence. They are encouraging stores that may have been affected to come forward with any relevant information or surveillance footage.
Residents in the affected communities expressed concern over how long the thefts went on before the arrest. Some shoppers say they feel less safe knowing that high-value thefts were happening repeatedly at everyday stores.
As of now, Cardozo-Quiroga is being held in ICE custody at a detention facility while legal proceedings begin. Officials have not confirmed a court date yet, but sources say he is likely to face several theft-related charges.
This case highlights how quickly a series of shoplifting incidents can grow into a larger issue, especially when suspects move across multiple jurisdictions. It also sheds light on how immigration authorities are coordinating with local police departments to address crimes involving non-citizens.