Man Charged In $47K Trailer, Aluminum Theft From Brick Marina

BRICK, NJ — A Jackson Township man has been charged in connection with the theft of boat lift parts and a trailer in December from a marine construction company, Brick Township police said Thursday.

John Paul Cottrell Sr., 48, was arrested Jan. 6 in the theft, Brick Police Officer Victoria Finelli said.

The aluminum beams and the trailer, valued at about $47,000, were taken from Extreme Marine Construction on Princeton Avenue about 12:40 a.m. on Dec. 18, police said.

Cottrell was identified through several anonymous tips from the public and through additional police investigation, Finelli said.

Cottrell was charged with theft of movable property and arrested at his home, Finelli said. He was taken to the Ocean County Jail but has since been released to await further court proceedings

During his arrest, additional evidence linking him to the theft was recovered and seized, but the stolen property has not yet been located, she said.

In the department's post seeking tips, police said the person, now identified as Cottrell, was seen on the marina property on Princeton Avenue about 8:20 p.m. on Dec. 17, then returned later during the overnight hours and took an orange flatbed trailer and various boat lift beams and parts. Finelli described them as "expensive aluminum."

Brick Township Police would like to thank the public for their assistance in this matter, and are asking anyone who may have any additional information that may lead to the stolen property to contact Detective Michael Bennett at 732-262-1122 or mbennett@brickpd.com.

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