Theft of beloved Newark restaurant owner’s van caught on camera
The owner of Taino’s Kitchen says the van contained thousands of dollars' worth of equipment.
A well-known Newark business owner is hoping for some help after her van, which she says was packed with over $15,000 in restaurant equipment, was stolen early Sunday morning.
Mayttee Cordero, the owner of Taino’s Kitchen, said the van was taken around 4 a.m. on Aug. 17 from the lot next to her Puerto Rican restaurant.
Surveillance video captured a man in a light-colored shirt, red baseball cap and jeans trying to open the passenger door of the dark green commercial van. After he failed, he returned with some sort of tool, forced the door open, climbed inside and drove off.
Cordero nicknamed the van “Green Monster” and said it was fully loaded with supplies and equipment for two large festivals scheduled for that same weekend.
She said the loss goes far beyond the monetary value.
“When I didn’t have funds to rent a hotel to go see my son, he’s a Marine, I used to hop in my Green Monster and go to him,” said Cordero. “I would fill up my air mattress and pray to God.”
Cordero said the Green Monster was sometimes a home on wheels to her as she traveled for food events and visited her son while he was deployed.
She often uses it to serve the community, providing food donations and events to support those in need - including Jordyn-Rose Mercado.
“She put her superhero cape on and came to the rescue. She really pulled through and supported my sweet 16. She’s always providing amazing food," said Mercado. "Just the fact that anyone would steal, it’s just unexplainable.”
Police are asking anyone with information to contact Detective Falcon at the Newark Police Department.
