Former Bergen County Parks Employee Charged With Theft Of Equipment
Friday, February 14, 2025, 8:45 A.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
HACKENSACK, NJ.- On Tuesday, following an investigation into the theft of property from the Bergen County Department of Parks, a 44-year-old Sparta, New Jersey, man and former employee of the Parks Department was taken into custody and jailed after being charged with multiple counts of theft.
According to Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella, early last month, the County of Bergen conducted an audit of equipment and tools utilized by the Bergen County Department of Parks. Upon completing the audit, it was discovered that multiple tools and equipment, including chainsaws, a large woodchipper, and a 20-foot dual-axle trailer, were missing.
Following the discovery of the missing items on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, the Department of Parks contacted Detectives of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad, and an investigation was launched.
During the investigation, Detectives determined that Charles T. Gatt, 44, of Sparta, who was previously employed by the Bergen County Department of Parks, took the equipment and committed the thefts.
Detectives Recover Stole Items
On Tuesday, February 11, 2025, Detectives of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office obtained and executed court-authorized search warrants at Gatt’s Sparta home, upon multiple vehicles being utilized by Gatt and at an additional property in Sparta Township, New Jersey. During the searches, Detectives recovered the equipment and tools stolen from the Bergen County Department of Parks. In addition, Detectives uncovered seventeen unregistered firearms, including a loaded handgun that was left unsecured in plain sight.
Accordingly, following the recovery of the stolen items, on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, Gatt was taken into custody in Sparta, New Jersey, and was formally charged with second-degree Theft; second-degree Receiving Stolen Property; second-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child; and fourth-degree Possession of a Firearm by a Certain Person.
Gatt was processed on the charges and remanded to the Bergen County Jail, pending future court proceedings in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack, New Jersey.
“The rules of the court require us to include a statement that states: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations, and the defendant and or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.”
