Lambertville Fire Department member arrested for theft

Hunterdon County Prosecutor Anthony P. Kearns, III, Chief of Detectives John J. Kuczynski, and Lambertville Police Director Bruce Cocuzza announced the arrest of Lambertville Fire Department member Cindy Strauss, age 34, of West Amwell Township.

Strauss, the treasurer of the Lambertville Fire Department Board of Engineers, and the treasurer of the Columbia Fire Department, was arrested Wednesday after an extensive investigation by the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the Lambertville Police Department.

According to Prosecutor Kearns, “Ms. Strauss was charged with third degree theft and third degree fraudulent use of a credit card for personal purchases and unauthorized ATM withdrawals made as treasurer of the Lambertville Fire Department Board of Engineers. The total amount of the theft was in excess of $2,000. Ms. Strauss was also charged with third degree theft and third degree fraudulent use of a credit card for personal purchases and unauthorized ATM withdrawals made as treasurer of the Columbia Fire Department. The total amount of the theft was in excess of $15,000.”

Strauss was arrested by Prosecutor’s Detectives and Lambertville Police Officers Wednesdsay afternoon. The Honorable Stephen B. Rubin, J.S.C. set bail on the defendant at $10,000. She was lodged at the Hunterdon County Jail.

Kearns thanked the Lambertville Fire Department, the Board of Engineers, and the Columbia Fire Department for their assistance throughout this matter.

Kearns concluded, “The stealing of funds by a municipal volunteer shakes the community at its very core. The public should feel safe in knowing that the dedicated fire service members who initially discovered this misappropriation cooperated fully with the investigation and worked tirelessly to assure that the individual responsible was identified and charged.”

The filing of a criminal complaint is merely a step in the criminal justice process. The defendant is presumed innocent until the matter is resolved in a court of law.

(Information in police and prosecutor reports is provided by law enforcemnent and assumed to be accurate. All suspects and arrested persons are presumed not guilty unless proven guilty in a Court of Law or until such rights are waived by the accused.)