Vendor Planned To Cook At Newark Festival – Then Someone Stole Their Van, Police Say

NEWARK, NJ — Someone stole a vendor’s van filled with kitchen items the night before a large festival in Newark earlier this month, authorities say.

The theft of the green 2002 Ford Econoline was discovered on the day of the Newark Latin Festival, which drew a large crowd of eager visitors and local residents in a display of community pride.

According to the Newark Department of Public Safety, the van owner said they parked the vehicle on the 800-block of Mt. Prospect Avenue around 11 p.m. on Aug. 16. When they returned at 7:30 a.m. on Aug. 17, the van was gone.

The van contained items the victim had planned to use as a vendor at the festival: two generators, two steam tables, two deep fryers, three propane tanks, packs of soda and several folding tables.

Police said that surveillance video footage shows a man entering the van around 4 a.m. The suspect then drives off, heading north on Mt. Prospect Avenue.

The suspect was wearing a blue shirt, blue jeans, brown shoes and a baseball cap, police said (see photos below).

Authorities said anyone with information about the theft 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.

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