Police found the meth lab after detecting the car was stolen, police said.
MANALAPAN -- Authorities arrested two people, including a fugitive, after they discovered the duo were making methamphetamines out of the back of a stolen vehicle in a Starbucks parking lot, police said.
Manalapan police say an officer using a license plate reader system detected a stolen 2011 Ford Escape in a Starbucks parking lot on Route 9 North around 5:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Several officers confirmed the vehicle was stolen out of Chesterfield in Burlington County and removed the two occupants from the car, police said.
The driver, Randy Lembcke, 27, and Tara Anders, 23, both of Conway, S.C., were both placed under arrest on charges they stole the SUV, police said. Officers then learned that Anders was a wanted fugitive out of North Miami, Fla.
As the investigation continued, they discovered the rear of the Escape was being used to manufacture methamphetamines, police said.
Police called in the New Jersey State Police Bomb Squad and Narcotics Unit, state and Monmouth County Hazmat teams, and also evacuated the Starbucks.
Lembcke and Anders were each charged with receiving stolen property, manufacturing a narcotics production facility, manufacturing narcotics and other drug offenses.
They were both taken to the Monmouth County jail, and bail was set at $232,000 each. An additional $250,000 bail was given to Anders, who was also charged with being a fugitive from justice.
Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.