Someone Stole Newark Church Trailer Used For Food Donations (Updated)

NEWARK, NJ — Normally, Temple Rock Community Church in Newark uses their trailer to haul food for vulnerable people in need of aid. Until it was stolen last weekend, according to its pastor.

Pablo Pizarro of Temple Rock Community Church, which is located on the 800-block of Broadway, recently put out a call to the neighborhood on social media about a theft that took place in the church’s parking lot on Oct. 9.

Pizarro shared surveillance video taken at the scene in the social media post. He wrote:

“Greetings everyone please take a moment to view this video. It’s unfortunate how nothing is sacred anymore. Sunday evening our church trailer was stolen. This is a brand-new trailer that we use to haul food for the community weekly. These criminals came right to our gates popped the lock while 3 other cars were sitting in the front as lookouts, they drive into our lot like nothing and simply hitch the trailer onto their vehicle and drive out. (Look at it for yourselves) NEWARK, NJ YOU HAVE TO DO BETTER. It’s a church!!!! We use it to bless the needy and the community! Praying for the individuals who did this. We simply pray that God would be glorified in all that we do in our North Newark community. If you see this trailer, please report it. I ask that you reshare this video in hopes of getting our trailer back.”

The Newark Police Department also issued a statement about the theft. Authorities said:

"Newark Public Safety Director Fritz Fragé requests the public’s help in locating the below-pictured vehicle in connection with the theft of a church trailer that occurred on Sunday, October 9. Police responded to Temple Rock Church, located at 860 Broadway, on a call of a stolen trailer. Police observed on surveillance footage a dark-colored vehicle approach the church’s parking lot from the Verona Avenue entrance at approximately 10:30 p.m. After breaking the lock off the parking lot’s gate, the suspect vehicle entered the lot. The suspects then broke the lock off the trailer’s hitch and hooked the trailer onto the suspect’s vehicle, which then fled headed east on Verona Avenue toward Broadway. Detectives investigating this incident seek the public’s help in locating this vehicle, possibly a gray Cadillac SRX. The trailer is described as black with NJ registration No. TXY97X."

Authorities said anyone with information can contact the Police Division’s 24-hour Crime Stopper tip line at 1-877-NWK-TIPS (1-877-695-8477). Anonymous tips can also be made using the Police Division’s website or through its smartphone app.

Newark police released the below surveillance photo of the stolen trailer.

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