Phone Thief Arrested As Train Leaves Station



     On 5/20/14 a resident came to the police station at approximately 10 pm very upset. The victim stated that she was on her cell phone talking to a man that had stolen her brother’s phone. The suspect was still on the phone demanding that the victim give him $25 for the return of the cell phone. Claiming to be the victim's boyfriend, an officer began speaking with the suspect.  During the conversation, the officer heard the Light Rail train horn inside the station and the echo of it on the phone line.   It was believed that the suspect was calling from the River Line train platform. Officers quickly responded and stopped the train as it began leaving Riverside.  
     A bystander on the platform heard the suspect on a phone yelling and cursing about stealing a phone.  He asked officers if they were looking for a guy who stole a phone and provided a description of the suspect that police had just observed enter the train. 
     Officers boarded the train and the suspect handed the phone over without incident. The suspect Wayne Martin 53 of Riverside was arrested. When taken into custody he was found in possession of an open container of alcohol and drug paraphernalia.   Also recovered was an undisclosed amount of prescription drugs which he did not have a prescription for. He also had two outstanding warrants for his arrest in Burlington City
     Martin was charged with Theft, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Distribution of Prescription Narcotics and Possession of Prescription Pills. He was lodged in Burlington County Jail in default of $25,500 bail.