Authorities in Newark took two suspects into custody after a theft of a government vehicle used to monitor a COVID-19 vaccination site in the city Thursday.
In the preliminary investigation, thieves made off with the FEMA van shortly before 3:18 p.m. then led officers on a pursuit that ended in the 100 block of Avon Avenue in Newark's Central Ward.
Police say the suspects bailed from the van and were swiftly apprehended after a brief foot pursuit.
According to federal officials, the U.S government-backed COVID-19 vaccination site in Newark officially opened in early April, serving several towns and cities in Essex, Hudson, Passaic and Union counties.
Federal officials said located on the campus of New Jersey Institute of Technology, the vaccination site is the largest facility in New Jersey that's opened the public.
At one point, the site administered about 6,000 doses per day, seven days per week.
There was no immediate information on whether there were any vaccines inside the van and it is not clear what the suspects' plans were for the vehicle.
The incident remains under investigation.
IMAGE CREDIT: File