Cranbury Twp, N.J. – The New Jersey State Police have charged Shaun Coleman, 23, Salahudin Reddy, 37, Hanif Tucker, 31, and Rashan Clark-Reddy, 26, all from Philadelphia, PA, in connection with an organized cargo theft ring.
A truck carrying 500,000 frozen shrimp valued at over $300,000 was stolen earlier this month in Middlesex, according to local police.
The theft was reported on Sept. 5 at around 4 a.m. by the truck’s driver, who told authorities that his 25,000-pound shipment, destined for a Costco store in Monroe Township, had disappeared from a rented parking space on Smalley Avenue.
In addition to the $305,000 worth of shrimp, the stolen tractor-trailer was valued at approximately $50,000, police said.
The driver discovered the theft when he went to make the delivery and found both the truck and its cargo missing. The Middlesex Police Department is investigating the incident, but no arrests have been made so far.
Over the past two months, the New Jersey State Police Troop “D” Criminal Investigations Office has been leading “Operation Beef Bandit,” which targeted a crew responsible for a series of nine burglaries at service areas along the New Jersey Turnpike. The suspects were involved in break-ins to parked and often occupied trailers, stealing high-value goods such as meat, alcohol, and seafood. These thefts are part of a larger pattern of similar incidents over the past three years across the tri-state area, amounting to millions of dollars in stolen merchandise.
Members of the New Jersey State Police Troop “D” Criminal Investigations Office, along with Troop “D” Moorestown Station, Troop “D” Cranbury Station, and the New Jersey State Police Cargo Theft Unit, used various investigative techniques to identify and apprehend the suspects. At approximately 1:25 a.m. on September 13, 2024, State Police observed two suspect vehicles entering the Molly Pitcher Service Area on the New Jersey Turnpike.
Four suspects were seen working together to burglarize a parked and occupied tractor-trailer, stealing boxes of meat. Troopers moved in and immediately arrested Hanif Tucker. Shaun Coleman attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended shortly after.
Salahudin Reddy and Rashan Clark-Reddy fled in a stolen vehicle, ramming an occupied unmarked police car during their escape attempt. After a brief pursuit, they were apprehended, and two marked police cars were damaged in the process.
Three troopers sustained minor injuries during the arrests, with one trooper requiring hospital treatment before being released. Shaun Coleman was charged with receiving stolen property, possession of burglary tools, criminal mischief, and conspiracy to commit cargo theft.
Salahudin Reddy was charged with receiving stolen property, possession of a stolen vehicle, conspiracy to commit cargo theft, possession of burglary tools, burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, resisting by flight, and criminal mischief. Hanif Tucker was charged with receiving stolen property, burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, criminal mischief, conspiracy to commit cargo theft, and possession of burglary tools.
All suspects are being held at Middlesex County Jail pending a bail detention hearing. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are urging anyone with information about these or similar cargo thefts to contact the New Jersey State Police Troop “D” Moorestown Station Detective Bureau at (732) 522-4295, extension 3226. Anonymous tips are welcome.