McDonald's Receipt Brings Arrests in Auto Parts Thefts

A fast-food receipt police reportedly found on the grounds of a Black Horse Pike automotive shop after being summoned there this weekend on a report of suspicious activity led to arrests in two recent thefts.

Police dispatched to Performance Motors Automotive, at 1106 N. Black Horse Pike, Blackwood, at 12:45 a.m. Saturday to investigate suspicious activity discovered auto parts had been stolen. The officers took notice of a McDonald's receipt on the auto shop property while searching for evidence, according to Gloucester Township Police Sgt. Kevin Thyne.

Police took the receipt from the Blackwood Clementon Road McDonald's back to the Blackwood fast-food restaurant, where employees provided the investigating officers with descriptions of the suspects and the vehicle in which they were traveling.

The descriptions matched those of two men and the van they were traveling in when they were arrested by township police on Dec. 26 on University Court for allegedly stealing scrap metal from Superior Pool Products, Thyne said.

Township police officers working an unrelated assignment in Camden spotted the van in the county seat later Saturday morning and stopped it with the assistance of Camden Police officers, Thyne said.

Recovered from the van were a transmission, brake rotors and other car parts determined to have been stolen from Performance Motors and Mr. Brakes Auto Care.

Charged in connection with the thefts were Darrin Sims, 45, of Loch Lomond Drive, Sicklerville, and Gregory D. Merritt, 39, of Camden.

Sims is charged with four counts each of third-degree theft and criminal trespass. He was lodged in Camden County Jail on $20,000 bail.

Merritt was charged with three counts each of third-degree theft and criminal trespass. He was released on his own recognizance pending court.