By Jim Clark

A reported shoplifting incident brought police to the Sports Authority store on Middlesex Ave. last week.

Responding officers were told by the store’s loss prevention personnel that a woman, later identified as Jean Larosa, 56, had been spotted placing articles of clothing from the store into a bag and that she attempted to leave the store without paying. She was detained by security and held until police arrived.

While searching Larosa’s purse for more possible stolen items, police reportedly found a small plastic bag containing a brown powdery substance that they believed was heroin.

Larosa was placed under arrest and charged with larceny over $250 and possession of a class A drug, and on warrant charges of shoplifting by concealing merchandise, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and motor vehicle lights violation.