Crime & Safety

Job-Hunters: Don't Steal From Your Would-Be Employer

They don't usually cover that in job-coaching sessions.

At least he had hands-on experience.

The owner of  Cranford Plumbing, Heating & Cooling told police late last month that overnight, someone had taken copper tubing from his company vehicle. But while police were keeping an eye out for suspects, one walked right in the business's front door.

Police say a 19-year-old showed up looking for a job at the business, which would have been usual enough—if the owner didn't recognize the teen as the same person seen on surveillance video taking the copper. So the owner once again called the coppers ... er, cops ... and they stopped the teen's vehicle shortly after.

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The teen was arrested, and released pending a court appearance. Presumably, he didn't get the job.

Each Monday, Patch takes a peek at some of the more surprising, shocking, stunning and occasionally silly police-related incidents reported throughout New Jersey for "OMGs from NJ PDs." Some of the other reports:

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Talk About Fresh: We get why someone might break into a vehicle to steal, say, a Screaming Eagle Harley Davidson jacket (valued at about $300) or the faceplates of a Pioneer radio (valued at about $200). What we don't get it why the thief would also take a pack of tissues, bandages and an air freshener. But next time you see a music-loving, slightly injured biker with a runny nose who smells just a little too pine-fresh, we suggest you call the  with the possible lead.

But Officer, I Was Only Going One Way: It's bad enough to be going the wrong way on a one-way road. It's worse to have a cop car pull up behind you, hit reverse, and hit the officer's vehicle. Police say that's what happened in Toms River . They also say the same driver hit another car earlier in the day, then pulled away instead of exchanging insurance information. OMG tip of the Week: If you're going to get hopped up on pills and drive on the wrong side of the road ... wait, just don't get hopped up on pills and drive on the wrong side of the road. That was easy.

Have You Had Your (Gas Main) Break Today? Say what you will about fast food, it sure packs you with a lot of short-term energy. Maybe that's why a drive-thru customer drove a little, well, too thru as she jumped the curb in the rear of a Garwood MacDonald's on March 27. The driver struck a high-pressure gas main, which lead authorities to shut down traffic and evacuate surrounding houses, police said. The driver got a summons; no word on whether she ever got her burger.

No Respect for Elders: Toms River police say a road rage incident led to a 51-year-old man after a minor rear-end collision. Several witnesses reportedly tried to break up the fight. It all started when the 51-year-old allegedly passed the 88-year-old's car, and began break-checking, leading the older driver to rear-end the younger one, police said. The 51-year-old got out of his car, the two exchanged words, and the 51-year-old punched the older driver in the head four times, police said. Ultimately, the 88-year-old wound up with four stitches. The younger one wound up with an assault charge.

Bad Luck All Around: Mahwah police say they ran the license plate of a man who'd been trying (and failing) to buy a lottery ticket at a Valero gas station, and found the car was stolen. The car headed over to another Valero, on the other side of the road, and a passenger got out to try again to buy a lottery ticket. Cops say the passenger didn't know anything was wrong with the car,  for allegedly being in possession of a stolen vehicle. To be fair, cars are expensive. If only he'd won the lottery, it could probably have all been avoided.


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