Fairfield (NJ) The Fairfield Police Department announces the arrest of William Penn (52) of Staten Island, N.Y., and George Smith (46) of East Meadow N.Y. for 2nd degree theft and conspiracy to commit theft for an incident that took place on April 12, 2021. Both suspects surrendered themselves to Fairfield authorities on June 2, 2021. The circumstances that gave rise to the arrest are as follows:
On Sunday April 12, 2021, at approximately 8:30 P.M., it is alleged that Penn and a juvenile, who was not charged in this incident, traveled to Funtime Services located at 9 Kulick Road in Fairfield and stole a large white enclosed trailer, containing a 14-gun water pistol carnival amusement game. Also inside of the trailer were a number of inflatable amusements. The trailer and its contents are valued at approximately $192,000.
It is alleged that Penn then towed the trailer to New York City via the George Washington Bridge. Further investigation conducted by Fairfield police detectives, which included, analysis of security camera footage, multiple interviews, and review of multiple Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) databases, led to the recovery of the trailer in a parking lot in Oceanside, N.Y. on April 30, 2021. It was eventually returned to its owner.
During the course of the investigation, it is alleged that Penn and Smith work together operating their own carnival amusement business in New York and that both worked together to plan to steal the trailer.
(It should be noted that the charges against both are merely allegations and that both are presumed innocent until they either plead guilty or is found guilty in a court of law)
Authorized by: Chief Anthony Manna