Caught in field on Route 206
HAMMONTON—Police arrested a suspect who was caught laying in a field following a theft attempt with the equipment he allegedly attempted to steal, Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel said. The theft arrest was made at 3:10 a.m. on October 27 on the prime block of Route 206, Friel said.
Police were dispatched to a retail store regarding equipment missing from the front of the building, Friel said.
“Police followed a trail through the field where two wood chippers were found tipped over. Tracking the trail further, they identified a suspect named Charles Weinberger, 45, of North Wildwood, who was laying in the field,” Friel said.
He was taken into custody, and under where he was laying were two hatchets that were used to cut through security cables, Friel said. He was also found to have multiple warrants including an NCIC warrant from the Atlantic County Sheriff’s Department, Friel said.
Weinberger was transported to police headquarters and charged with the following offenses: theft of moveable property, receiving stolen property, criminal mischief and possession of burglary tools, Friel said.
He was transported to the Atlantic County Justice Facility on the NCIC warrant and will be appearing in Atlantic County Superior Court on the new charges, Friel said.
Friel said Officer Richard Carpo was the investigating and arresting officer.
This report is comprised of arrests and investigations made by the men and women of local enforcement. All suspects and arrested are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.