Eric J. Marrero, of Carteret, was arrested and charged with criminal attempt to commit theft and possession of burglary tools, according to the Warren County Prosecutor's Office.
On Sept. 26, at approximately 2 a.m., Lopatcong Township police were dispatched to Acasia Thai Restaurant at 755 Memorial Parkway in Lopatcong. The owner of the restaurant called 9-1-1 when he observed a male on his surveillance cameras stealing cooking oil from the rear of the building,
Lopatcong Township officers arrived a short time later and confronted Marrero, the prosecutor said.
Marrero allegedly had a Penske van backed up close to the building. Inside of the van he had a generator with two long hoses, as well as two large plastic tanks. Marrero had been preparing to pump the cooking oil out of the store's metal container into his plastic containers, the prosecutor said.
Marrero was taken into custody and transported to Lopatcong Township Headquarters. He was held in Warren County Jail while he awaits a Warren County Superior Court first appearance.
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