Police say they have arrested four people who stole millions of dollars worth of goods from trailers along the New Jersey Turnpike.

Officials say the suspects were arrested on Friday when they were caught in the act around 1:25 a.m. at the Molly Pitcher Service Area.

New Jersey State Police say four men from Philadelphia, between ages 23 and 37, were stealing things like meat, alcohol and seafood from trailers parked at service stations.

Police believe the men have been doing this for the past three years across New Jersey and neighboring states.

Police called their search for the suspects "Operation Beef Bandit." They say the men were involved in a series of at least nine trailer burglaries and officers have been working for about two months to catch them.

The operation came to an end Friday when officers caught them in the act, stealing boxes of meat from a parked trailer at the Molly Pitcher Service Area.

Officers say two of the men tried driving away in a stolen car, smashing into an unmarked police car during the attempted escape, leaving three officers with minor injuries and two damaged state police vehicles.

The four are being held at Middlesex County Jail awaiting a detention hearing.

News 12 reported on thieves last week who tried stealing more than $300,000 worth of seafood from trailer in the same area.

Police haven't said whether the two incidents are connected.