An Atlantic City man, William Flores, is back in custody after being arrested for stealing a cash register, just weeks after being released pending sentencing for a similar crime. The 41-year-old was out of prison for less than two months when he was first arrested on January 2 for stealing from a 7-Eleven.
During that initial incident, Flores forcibly collided with one employee and threatened another who attempted to secure the store. He pleaded guilty to those charges last month and was released on August 16, with a court date set for sentencing on September 27.
However, he was apprehended again after police responded to a report of theft at a convenience store on Ventnor Avenue. According to Capt. Kevin Fair, Flores initially spoke with the merchant before leaving the store. He later returned in different clothing, took the cash register without saying a word, and fled.
Flores was quickly identified by officers, as he was already known for similar offenses. Officer Adrianna Petinga spotted him on the Boardwalk, but he attempted to escape before being apprehended by Officers Nickolas Cardani and Anthony Nastasi. He now faces charges of theft, resisting arrest, and obstruction of justice.
Flores’s criminal history is extensive. He was released from South Woods State Prison on November 4 after completing an eight-year term for a robbery committed in 2014. Since then, he has been in and out of custody multiple times, struggling to maintain his freedom.
During a detention hearing in January, his public defender noted that Flores was trying to turn his life around after his sixth prison term. He had been working and staying at a hotel in Atlantic City, with the possibility of living with his father in Mays Landing if released. It remains unclear where he was staying before his latest arrest.