Amazon Delivery Driver Stole Packages In Morris Co. Towns: Cops

CHATHAM, NJ - An Amazon delivery driver was arrested Wednesday and charged with stealing packages after a month-long investigation, according to Chatham Township Chief of Police Thomas Miller.

The arrest came three weeks after two dozen Amazon packages were found strewn on the side of a Harding Township road, an incident that was ultimately traced to Trey Johnson, 31, of Woodbridge.

Johnson was charged with theft of movable property by Chatham Detective David Gallo, who lead the investigation, Miller said. According to Miller, on Nov. 14 an alert Chatham Township resident located several undelivered packages scattered in a wooded area on Gates Avenue.

Some of the packages had been opened and had the contents stolen while others remained sealed in their original packages. While investigating, Gallo learned that a similar incident occurred in Harding Township, Miller said.

Gallo, working in conjunction with the Harding Township Police and Amazon Loss Prevention, determined that Trey Johnson, a driver who was contracted by Amazon, was assigned to deliver the recovered packages from both jurisdictions, Miller said.

Police say Johnson rummaged through the packages, taking some things and discarding the rest. The value of the stolen items was $1,974.27, police said. Johnson worked for a third party Amazon contractor, Prime EFS

According to Miller, further investigation "utilizing available technologies" placed Johnson in the area where the undelivered and opened packages were later located. Johnson was arrested and charged with Theft of Movable Property and released pending a court appearance, Miller said.

This is the second such arrest in as many days in New Jersey as yesterday another Amazon delivery driver in Monmouth County was arrested after being caught on video removing packages from a porch. On Monday, a Plainfield woman was also arrested and charged with the theft of packages from Scotch Plains.

Related Stories:

• Alleged Package Thief Arrested: Millburn Police
• Pair Of Package Thefts From Morris Apartments
• Package Stolen From Short Hills Home
• Pair Of Packages Pilfered From Church Street

According to Ernesto Apreza, a spokesperson for Amazon, Johnson will no longer be contracted by the company.

“This behavior is unacceptable and does not reflect the high standards we have for delivery service partners. This individual is no longer delivering Amazon packages,” he said.

(Photo provided)

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