Four men have been charged in connection with a food theft ring that targeted cargo trucks along the New Jersey Turnpike.
New Jersey State Police announced on Monday that the suspects, all hailing from Philadelphia, were caught in the act of another break-in. Shaun Coleman, 23, Salahudin Reddy, 37, Hanif Tucker, 31, and Rashan Clark-Reddy, 26, are facing charges of conspiracy, criminal mischief, burglary, and possession of stolen goods. Authorities believe they are responsible for a series of thefts in the region over the past three years, with stolen items totaling in the millions of dollars.
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Police revealed that the arrests came after a two-month long investigation dubbed “Operation Beef Bandit.” The culprits were targeting service areas off the New Jersey Turnpike, where they stole meat, alcohol, seafood, and other valuable items from parked trailers. In some instances, the trucks were still occupied.
Early on a Friday morning, state troopers spotted two suspicious vehicles entering the Molly Pitcher Service Area off the turnpike. Four suspects emerged and began trying to steal boxes of meat from a tractor-trailer in the lot. Tucker and Coleman were quickly apprehended, but Reddy and Clark-Reddy attempted to flee in a stolen vehicle. They ended up crashing into a police car before being caught. Three troopers sustained minor injuries during the pursuit, but none were serious.
Sgt. Charles Marchan mentioned that there may be a connection to recent cargo thefts in South Philadelphia, but investigations are still ongoing. He urged anyone with information to contact the New Jersey State Police at 732-522-4295, extension 3226. All four suspects are currently being held at Middlesex County Jail awaiting detention hearings.
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