Marine charged with theft from Willow Grove base

A MARINE was charged yesterday with stealing aluminum helicopter-landing pads and other metal objects from the former Naval Air Station in Willow Grove and then selling the goods to a local scrap-metal dealer.

Christopher Cook, 28, of Lakehurst, N.J., a Marine sergeant, stole about 30 tons of the landing pads and other materials worth about $760,000 between August 2010 and February of this year, authorities said.

The federal grand jury indictment said Cook had used the money - almost $51,000 - to pay for travel expenses, restaurant meals and other entertainment, clothing, jewelry and repairs to his truck.

The charging papers said Cook had visited the scrap-metal dealer 22 times.

Cook allegedly rented trucks from a local U-Haul dealer and drove them onto the base to make off with the goods. Most of the pads were in 12-foot-long packages, authorities said.

At the time, he was assigned to a Marine Reserves aviation-ground-support unit that was headquartered on the base.

The Naval Air Station in Willow Grove was recommended for closure in 2005, and the last military aircraft departed in March. The base closed last month.

Cook was charged with theft and destruction of government property. If convicted of all charges, he faces two to three years behind bars under advisory sentencing guidelines.