Paul Avery, 64 of Tenafly, was charged last Thursday with theft after an investigation found he sold several items on eBay including three helmets and a speaking trumpet, police told several media outlets.
Avery, who earns an annual pension of $130,000, worked at the museum painting and building cabinets, the New York Post reports. He worked for the department for 36 years and retired in 2017.
A fire captain who works at the museum believes Avery began swiping items in 2016.
Avery apparently played an integral role in refurbishing the museum -- formerly a firehouse -- ahead of its 100th anniversary in 2006, NJ.com reports.
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