Police arrest 4 Philly 'Beef Bandits' wanted in NJ cargo theft ring

NEW JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — State police in New Jersey say they stopped a multi-million dollar cargo theft ring focused on meat, seafood and alcohol. They are calling it Operation Beef Bandits.

Troopers say 23-year-old Shaun Coleman, 37-year-old Salahudin Reddy, 31-year-old Hanif Tucker and 26-year-old Rashan Clark-Reddy were captured on Friday, Sept. 13, around 1:25 a.m. as they attempted to break into a trailer in the Molly Pitcher Service Area on the New Jersey Turnpike.

Troopers were investigating nine cargo thefts along the turnpike for about two months. On Friday, they spotted a man attempting to steal meat from the trailer and stepped in. After a brief pursuit, including two of the men ramming a police car in a stolen vehicle, all four were arrested.

Coleman, Reddy, Tucker and Clark-Reddy — all of Philadelphia — are charged with conspiracy to commit cargo theft and related offenses. Reddy is also charged with resisting arrest.
They are being held pending a hearing.

State police say they believe the men have stolen millions of dollars in meat, seafood and alcohol throughout the region over the last three years.