MOUNT OLIVE TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Morris County) — A North Bergen man arrested earlier in the day in connection with a theft at a Flanders bagel shop is now facing additional charges after police say he was found in possession of a stolen vehicle and a stolen laptop.
Police said that around 11:30 p.m. on Nov. 11, an officer on routine patrol spotted an unoccupied Hyundai Sonata left running in the parking lot of the Delta gas station at 114 Route 206 in the Flanders section of Mount Olive Township. A check of the registration determined the vehicle had been reported stolen out of North Bergen, along with a MacBook computer that was inside the car when it was taken.
An investigation revealed that Mohammad N. Salem, 48, of North Bergen, who had been arrested earlier that afternoon for allegedly stealing cash from a tip jar, had been in possession of the stolen Hyundai and had left it running at the gas station, according to police.
Earlier in the day, police responded to Rt. 206 Bagels and Deli for a report that a man stole roughly $21 from a tip jar. Salem was located a short time later at a nearby Wawa and taken into custody. A records check revealed he had an active NCIC warrant out of Passaic County, and police said he was found with a MacBook that had been reported stolen along with the Hyundai.
Following his initial arrest, Salem was turned over to the Passaic County Sheriff’s Department on the warrant. After determining his involvement with the stolen vehicle, Mount Olive police filed additional charges of possession of a stolen motor vehicle and receiving stolen property.
He remains held at the Passaic County Correctional Facility pending a court hearing.
