In a dramatic heist at a Walmart in New Jersey, a man allegedly orchestrated a jewelry theft by setting a fire in the children’s clothing section using camping fuel and fireworks as a diversion.
Anthony J. Rhodes is now facing a slew of charges related to arson and explosives, including first-degree arson and creating an explosive device, as revealed by a statement from the Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal regarding the April 29 incident. For more details, visit the official announcement.
Anthony Rhodes Accused of Setting Fire Inside Walmart
On April 29, around 7 p.m., the Singerly Fire Company was dispatched to a Walmart on Pulaski Highway in Maryland after reports emerged of a fire inside the store. Firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze swiftly, but the State Fire Marshal’s Office was called to investigate its origins.
Through store surveillance footage, investigators identified a masked individual entering the store with a backpack. He reportedly placed a can of camping fuel and several boxes of fireworks in a shopping cart, igniting it near the children’s clothing area, according to authorities.
As the fireworks erupted, causing a store evacuation, the suspect allegedly smashed into a jewelry counter, stealing jewelry worth almost $10,000. He then exited the store and made his escape on a motorcycle.
Although the fire only caused about $5,000 in direct damage to the store, Walmart officials said remediation efforts and loses of inventory due to smoke and soot totaled nearly $10 million, according to the statement.
Authorities said they were able to identify Rhodes as the suspect in the fire, in part, because of a Jefferson University Baseball t-shirt he was wearing at the time of the heist. He does not have any known connection to the college or its baseball team, authorities said.
“Working side-by-side with our ATF partners and Walmart Global Investigations, our team was able to identify a suspect quickly,” Acting State Fire Marshal Jason M. Mowbray said. “Investigations such as these require an all-hands approach, and I am proud of everyone who was able to bring this case to a close.”
Rhodes was arrested without incident on May 14 in New Jersey. He is currently being held at the Camden County Correctional Facility as he awaits extradition to Maryland. It’s unclear whether he has retained an attorney.