Man Stole $5K Worth Of Remote-Controlled Cars: Wayne Police

WAYNE, NJ - A man faces charges after police say he stole $5,000 worth of remote controlled cars from a Wayne hobby shop.

Derrick Meeks, 48, was arrested Thursday at his home in Toms River following an investigation prompted by a burglary last month at Zeppelin Hobbies, Wayne Police Capt. Dan Daly said.

That morning, the store’s staff contacted police to report that sometime during the overnight hours, the front glass door was smashed and several remote-controlled cars were taken, Daly said.

Several weeks later, the owner of Zeppelin Hobbies was notified by a customer that one of his stolen remote-controlled cars was on sale at a hobby shop in Toms River, the captain said.

Detectives were led to Meeks after checking the Toms River area for registered vehicles that matched the car seen on surveillance video at Zeppelin Hobbies on the night of the burglary, Daly said.

Police also compared Meeks' photo with images captured by security cameras inside of the hobby shop, he said.

On Thursday evening, Wayne police, along with officers from Toms River, took Meeks into custody, Daly said. During a search of his home, officers discovered numerous remote-controlled cars, suspected cocaine and other evidence related to the burglary, Daly said.

Meeks was charged by Toms River police with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, and Wayne police charged him with burglary and other offenses. He has since been remanded to Passaic County Jail.