MENDHAM, NJ – A Morris County man has been charged with allegedly stealing a backhoe from a local landscaping and maintenance company.
Robert Hodulich, 36, of Mendham, was charged with theft of personal property and theft of a motor vehicle, police said.
Mount Olive Township Police Officer Christopher Saunders said the robbery occurred Aug. 13 at the Parkade Mall, 7 Naughright Road in Hackettstown.
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Authorities said Hodulich was caught on camera stealing the John Deere backhoe from the landscaping and maintenance company, AAA Red, White and Blue Excavation.
Footage of the crime was posted on social media, and Hodulich was eventually identified by the police department.
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On Monday, Saunders found Hodulich at a Long Valley home, where he was arrested with the help of the Washington Township Detective Bureau, according to police.
Hodulich was released from police custody pending a court hearing, and police found the backhoe and returned it to the owner.
John Deere backhoes can cost anywhere from $139,888 to $278,349, according to the John Deere website.
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