Shoplifter identified as Park Commission employee

HAMILTON » A Mercer County Park Commission employee has been arrested on allegations he stole merchandise from Wawa.

Gregory W. Argenti Sr., 71, of Hamilton, has been charged with shoplifting after police identified him as the brazen man who had fled with $8 worth of unpaid goodies, authorities said. It took police several weeks to solve the crime.

About 3:20 p.m. Wednesday, May 23, Hamilton Police responded to the report of a shoplifting that occurred at the Wawa convenience store at 1200 Route 33. “An employee reported an older white male with white hair and glasses had taken approximately $8 in merchandise from the store and left without paying,” police said Thursday in a news release.

Detectives reviewed surveillance footage of the incident and through subsequent investigation identified Argenti as the at-large shoplifter. Police arrested Argenti on Monday. He was charged, processed and released from custody pending a future court appearance, police said.

Mercer County confirmed Argenti works for the Park Commission as a park maintenance man and earns $50,038 per year. He has been employed with the county since September 2005, officials say, and has filed for retirement effective Aug. 1.

The Trentonian was unable to determine whether Argenti’s alleged shoplifting occurred during county time. A county spokeswoman confirmed Argenti’s employment on Friday but did not say whether he faces any administrative discipline.

The Trentonian has reached out to Argenti seeking comment.

“I’d rather not comment,” he told the newspaper Friday afternoon when reached by telephone.

Despite making the arrest, the shoplifting incident remains under active police investigation. Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact Detective Frank Palmieri of the Hamilton Police Division’s Criminal Investigations Section at (609) 5814041 or the Hamilton Police Crime Tip Hotline at (609) 581-4008.