Police: Obstructed License Plate Leads to Burglary, Theft Charges

Police say a pickup truck's obstructed license plate led to its driver's arrest Saturday on charges related to the theft of hot-water heaters from a Blackwood business.

Several industrial hot-water heaters were stolen during a burglary at Triangle Tube on Friday, police said.

Gloucester Township Police Ptl. Brian Mazzarella pulled over a white 2009 Chevrolet pickup truck operated by 28-year-old Grenloch man Robert H. Rowe Jr. Saturday on the Black Horse Pike, in the township's Blenheim section. The officer stopped the truck due to its license plate being "suspiciously obstructed," according to a press release issued by Sgt. Dominic Coppola Jr.

During the traffic stop, Mazzarella observed a thermostat from a hot-water heater and discovered a controlled dangerous substance in the truck, according to police.

Police did not identify the drug allegedly found inside Rowe's truck.

Rowe and passenger Michelle V. Kalck, 28, of Lindenwold, were arrested at that point on drug charges, according to police. Kalck was also served a warrant from Gloucester County.

During a follow-up investigation, police learned the Chevy pickup matched the description of a suspect vehicle in the Triange Tube burglary and later found parts from stolen hot-water heaters at Rowe's residence.

Rowe was charged with burglary and theft, and released pending court.

Kalck was turned over to Washington Township Police on the active warrant.