[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township of Pohatcong as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 9-15-2015 by Ord. No. 15-08]
The purpose of this article is to provide administrative and civil remedies against businesses that permit, allow, or fail to prevent excessive calls for police service related to shoplifting and businesses that habitually fail to file a criminal complaint against an alleged shoplifter after making a call for police service, all of which compromise the public health, safety, and welfare of the Township.
As used herein, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
BUSINESS
Any individual, sole proprietor, corporation, limited-liability company, and any other type of business entity which engages in business or commercial activities, including the sale of goods, within the Township.
CALENDAR MONTH
The period which begins on the first day of one of the months as named in the calendar and which ends on the last day of that same month as named in the calendar.
COUNCIL
Township Council of the Township of Pohatcong.
CRIMINAL COMPLAINT
A complaint filed in municipal court by a witness to a shoplifting event alleging a shoplifting event.
MANAGER
The individual or entity that is responsible for management of a business as defined herein.
OWNER
The individual or entity which owns a business as defined herein.
POLICE
Pohatcong Township Police Department.
POLICE SERVICE COST
The costs as established in § 209-3 below.
POLICE SERVICE COST INVOICE
The invoice to be produced pursuant to § 209-5 below.
SHOPLIFTING
Theft of merchandise or goods from a business as defined herein.
SHOPLIFTING CALL
A call made to the police by a representative of a business to report an incident, or suspected incident, of shoplifting.
TOWNSHIP
Township of Pohatcong, County of Warren, State of New Jersey.
A. 
Every owner and/or manager responsible for the management and regulation of a business is required to pay police service costs for: 1) each shoplifting call in excess of 15 within a calendar month; and/or 2) each shoplifting call which does not result in the filing of a criminal complaint by the business in excess of two within a calendar month.
B. 
For each shoplifting call in excess of 10 within a calendar month, an owner and/or manager responsible for management and regulation of the business shall make payment of $500 to the Township; and for each shoplifting call which does not result in a filing of a criminal complaint by the business in excess of one within a calendar month, an owner and/or manager responsible for management and regulation of the business shall make payment of $500 to the Township.
Prior to the issuance of a police service cost invoice, the Township shall provide the business owner with notice that the business is approaching the threshold amount of shoplifting calls and/or shoplifting calls which do not result in the filing of a criminal complaint which will result in the business' responsibility for police service costs.
Police service costs due in accordance with this article shall be billed to the owner and/or manager with responsibility to manage the business by the Township through a police service cost invoice and shall be due and payable within 30 days of such billing.