WESTPORT — Two New Jersey men, who police accuse of joining forces with a woman to shoplift merchandise from the local Ulta Beauty store, were taken into custody as they tried to flee last week.

Juan Mogrovejo, 40, of Nutley, N.J., and Jose Ortiz-Pariona, 32, of Paterson, N.J., were both charged Sept. 27 with fourth-degree larceny and criminal attempt to commit fourth-degree larceny.

The incident took place shortly after 5:30 p.m. Sept. 27 when officers were dispatched to investigate the report of a shoplifting in progress at Ulta Beauty, 1365 Post Road East.

Police were told that a man and woman had entered the store, stole several pieces of merchandise and fled. The woman entered another nearby store, according to the report, while the man jumped into a waiting vehicle that left the scene.

A witness provided police with the license plate number of the fleeing vehicle, and it was stopped heading east on Post Road East near the Fairfield border. 

Officers allegedly found evidence from the shoplifting in the vehicle, and the two  occupants — identified as Mogrovejo and Ortiz-Pariona — were taken into custody.

The female suspect eluded a search, but has been tentatively identified, police said, adding that the investigation into the incident is continuing.

Mogrovejo and Ortiz-Pariona were taken to Police Department headquarters, where they were formally charged and later released after each posted $5,000 bond. Each man was assigned an Oct. 18 date at state Superior Court in Stamford.