The Lakewood Police Department has filed criminal charges in connection with a cargo theft investigation involving merchandise valued at approximately $65,000.

Police said the investigation began on Feb. 4, when officers responded to a report of a commercial shipment that was scheduled for delivery to Lakewood but never arrived. According to authorities, the victim reported that the merchandise had been picked up out of state by a contracted driver and failed to reach its destination.

Detectives reviewed shipping documentation, electronic tracking data, and worked with out-of-state law enforcement agencies as part of the investigation. Police said the inquiry determined that the individual assigned to transport the shipment did not complete the delivery.

As a result, Kamal Singh, 24, of Fresno, California, has been charged with two counts of theft by deception under state statute 2C:20-4. The charges relate to the alleged improper receipt of transportation payment and the value of the missing merchandise.

Authorities said Singh has been entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database. The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with further information related to the case is asked to contact Detective Ganley of the Lakewood Police Department Detective Bureau.