parra pena

Abel L. Parra Pena, of Bergenfield, is charged with stealing 3,239 "units" of Canada Dry products between November and January, police said. (Joe Shine | For The Jersey Journal)

JERSEY CITY -- A Bergen County delivery driver was arrested on Saturday afternoon after allegedly admitting to stealing $20,000 worth of soda from the Marin Boulevard ShopRite, authorities said.

Abel L. Parra Pena, of Bergenfield, is charged with stealing 3,239 "units" of Canada Dry products between November and January according to a police report.

A loss prevention officer for ShopRite found a $20,000 discrepancy in the company's orders from Canada Dry. Both companies held a meeting at the Metro Plaza location and called in Parra Pena, who regularly delivers to ShopRite, police said.

Parra Pena allegedly admitting to stealing the product and was arrested outside ShopRite at about 2 p.m.

Canada Dry, which makes ginger ale and seltzer, is part of the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group. A spokesman for the company said third-party distributors are responsible for shipping Canada Dry products in New Jersey.

The distributor could not immediately be reached for comment on the arrest.

Caitlin Mota may be reached at cmota@jjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitlin_mota. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.