Crime & Safety
Car Stolen from West Deptford Wawa while Man Shops
Another West Deptford resident was jailed in connection with the incident after admitting to police that he allegedly traded the stolen vehicle for drugs.
The moral of the story: don't leave your car running with the keys in the ignition while you shop.
One West Deptford man learned that lesson the hard way, after his car was stolen while he ducked into the Wawa on Crown Point Road on December 6.
West Deptford police say a township resident left the keys in his mother's 2005 Nissan Altima with the engine running while he went into the store. He emerged to find his vehicle was missing, and called police.
Surveillance footage from the property showed a man enter the vehicle, and then drive off in the direction of the Route 295 overpass. Officer Frank Mullin recognized him as West Deptford resident Joseph Richter, a man known to police from prior encounters.
A warrant was issued for Richter's arrest, and police apprehended him on December 7. While in custody, police say Richter admitted to taking vehicle and driving to Camden, where he traded it for drugs.
The car has not been located.
Richter was charged with vehicle theft, and was remanded to the Salem County jail in default of bail.
All information provided by West Deptford Police. An arrest is not a conviction.
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