Steak Thief Caught Red-Handed After Break-Ins At Wayne Food Distributor: Police

WAYNE, NJ — Investigators nabbed a suspect in a probe into several late-night burglaries at Driscoll Foods' facilities in Wayne Township, according to police officials.

Police said the officers confronted the suspect, a 40-year-old Paterson man, after they saw him leave the business with a pallet jack, which was loaded up with $3,000 worth of steaks.

The foodservice distributor, located at 6 Westbelt, arranged a special detail of officers to investigate a series of thefts, said Detective Captain Dan Daly.

On Nov. 11 at 10:30 p.m., Officer Pat Wlazel and Detective Nick Henriquez were watching Driscoll Foods property when saw a vehicle driving slowly past the company.

Shortly after that, Wlazel and Henriquez saw someone in dark-colored clothing moving through the parking lot towards the building, and relayed that information to the on-duty patrol officers, Daly said. Four officers staged nearby.

The subject was out of sight for some time before emerging with the pallet jack and boxes of steaks, said officials. Officers moved in and arrested the man, identified as Daquan S. Hinton of Paterson.

"Further investigation determined that Mr. Hinton gained entry to the facility through a bay door and had multiple additional pallets staged for his return," Daly said in a news release.

Hinton's vehicle was found parked nearby with paper covering his license plates, and he also had alprazolam (Xanax) in his possession, Daly added.

Hinton was charged with burglary, theft, and possession of a controlled dangerous substance and released on a summons in accordance with bail reform guidelines, officials said.