On February 26, 2019, officers conducted a follow-up investigation into a burglary that occurred on February 18th at the former site of the Rodney Dormitory Complex on Hillside Road, according to Lt Andrew Rubin.
Rubin said during the burglary, copper piping had been removed from the property. During the investigation, the officers obtained new suspect vehicle information and an employee observed the same truck in the area of the dorms. An officer in the area located the suspect vehicle on Cheltenham Road and contacted the occupants, who were identified as Thomas McCoog and Joshua Lanigan, both of Maple Shade, New Jersey. McCoog and Lanigan were taken into custody by Newark officers.
Newark Police Detectives executed a search warrant on the vehicle and located copper in the bed of the truck, according to Rubin. Additional evidence, including witness statements, surveillance footage and evidence located from the vehicle were used to link McCoog and Lanigan to burglary incidents from February 18, February 25 and February 26, 2019, said Rubin.
Thomas McCoog, 40 years-of-age, was charged with:
Burglary Third Degree (3 counts)
Conspiracy Second Degree (2 counts)
Theft Under $1500 (3 counts)
McCoog appeared via video before a Justice of the Peace Court and was released after posting $4,000 secured bail.
Joshua Lanigan, 37 years-of-age, was charged with the same offenses.
He appeared via video before a Justice of the Peace Court and was released on his own recognizance.
