Detectives tracked the stolen shipment across multiple states before filing charges.
LAKEWOOD, NJ – Lakewood Police have filed criminal charges against a California man following a $65,000 cargo theft investigation that began earlier this month after a shipment bound for the township never arrived.
Key Points
- Police charged Kamal Singh, 24, of Fresno, California, in a $65,000 cargo theft case
- The shipment, picked up out of state, never reached its Lakewood destination
- Singh faces two counts of theft by deception; the investigation remains active
Shipment vanished en route to Lakewood
According to police, officers were alerted on February 4 after a commercial shipment scheduled for delivery to Lakewood failed to arrive. The victim reported that a contracted driver had picked up the load out of state but never completed the delivery.
Detectives from the Lakewood Police Department reviewed shipping documents and electronic tracking data and coordinated with law enforcement agencies in other states to locate the missing merchandise. Investigators determined the assigned driver, later identified as Kamal Singh, did not deliver the goods as contracted.
Charges filed, investigation ongoing
Singh, 24, of Fresno, California, has been charged with two counts of theft by deception (2C:20-4) related to both the value of the merchandise and the transportation payment. His information has been entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database.
Police Chief Gregory Meyer praised detectives for their persistence, stating that cargo theft poses a serious threat to local and regional businesses. “Our detectives worked diligently to track this case across multiple jurisdictions and ensure that appropriate charges were filed,” Meyer said. “We will continue to pursue individuals who believe they can exploit our business community.”
Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Detective Ganley at the Lakewood Police Department Detective Bureau.