GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ – A holiday season sting operation using a GPS-equipped bait package led to the arrest of a suspected package thief in the Erial section of Gloucester Township, authorities said.
According to police, the department had deployed a monitored bait package at a local residence in response to community concerns about rising thefts during the busy shopping season. Around 2:20 p.m. on December 31, officers observed through GPS tracking that the package had been taken.
Officers followed the device’s movements until they were able to safely conduct a traffic stop, recovering the stolen item and taking the suspect into custody without incident. The suspect, identified as 59-year-old Brian Pope of Greypebble Circle in Sicklerville, was charged with fourth-degree theft of movable property and released on a criminal summons under New Jersey’s bail reform guidelines.
The Gloucester Township Police Department urged residents to remain alert and take preventative steps to protect their deliveries, including prompt retrieval, package tracking, and the use of secure delivery locations.
Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Gloucester Township Police at (856) 228-4500 or submit tips anonymously online at gtpolice.com/tips.
A GPS-equipped bait package helped Gloucester Township police track and arrest a suspect accused of stealing deliveries during the holiday season.