Nutley Man Accused Of Stealing Car, Breaking Into 6 Others: PD

NUTLEY, NJ — Nutley police have arrested one of two men accused of stealing a car and breaking into six others in the township, authorities announced Wednesday.

According to the Nutley Police Department, Keith McNei Jr., 18, of Nutley, has been charged with six counts of burglary, one count of auto theft and one count of conspiracy.

Nutley officers responded to Hay Avenue and Villa Place on Sunday morning after six vehicles were entered and “numerous” items stolen. Police eventually determined that the suspect was one of two people who also stole an Infinity G35 on Villa Place, authorities said.

Detectives investigating the incidents reviewed surveillance footage that identified one of the suspects as McNei, who was shirtless and wearing a surgical mask at the time. McNei was accompanied by a “taller, thin male,” police said.

Nutley police arrested McNei on Tuesday. He was also wanted by Florence Township police in connection with an auto theft in their jurisdiction, and was transferred to their custody that evening, authorities said.

Police recovered the stolen vehicle in Passaic, and charges against McNei’s alleged accomplice are “imminent,” authorities said Wednesday.

Nutley Police Chief Thomas Strumolo said the NPD has a “very high” percentage of arrests related to motor vehicle burglaries. So far this year, the department has arrested or charged 19 people with such crimes, he said, noting that each incident involved multiple vehicles.

Police Director Alphonse Petracco reminded Nutley residents to lock their vehicles’ doors to help prevent future incidents.

Keep updated with local public safety alerts at the Patch Belleville-Nutley Facebook page. Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com