Hellcats And Jeeps: Bloomfield Cops Release Info On Theft Arrests

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — The Bloomfield Police Department recently released details about an investigation into stolen cars in the township and other locations in New Jersey.

The police probe involved several Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT's and Dodge Charger Hellcats, authorities said last week.

“I would like to commend Det. Matthew Rubbinaccio of the Bloomfield Police Department along with detectives from the New Jersey State Police unit, Det. Soares and numerous other detectives that assisted in this investigation” Bloomfield Police Chief George Ricci said.

The following news release comes via the Bloomfield Police Department:

The Bloomfield Police Department and the New Jersey State Police Motor Vehicle Crimes North Unit conducted an investigation into stolen motor vehicles involving numerous Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT's and Dodge Charger Hellcats. The incident occurred in Late December 2022 into early 2023 in the Township of Bloomfield and other multiple jurisdictions throughout the state.

On February 17, 2023, multiple search warrants were executed in New Jersey because of the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT theft that occurred in Bloomfield in December 2022.

The results of the search warrants seizures were as follows:

• Reprogrammed key fob for the 2021 Bloomfield Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT that was located. - 2021 Jeep SRT reported stolen by the Bloomfield Police Department valued at $68,858 - 2022 Honda motorcycle reported stolen by the Cinnaminson Township Police Department valued at $1,850
• 2013 Can Am Commander UTV reported stolen by Pennsylvania State Police - Milton Barracks valued at $8,280
• An Additional Can Am with no VIN number was located.
• 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Track hawk, color silver, bearing New Jersey registration reported stolen by the Irvington Police Department, New Jersey and formally reported stolen by the Springdale Police Department, Ohio valued at $68,367 was located without a public VIN. - A stolen 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Track hawk, color black, bearing Pennsylvania registration reported stolen by the Tampa Police Department, Florida $78,013.

In addition to 2021 Jeep SRT, the Bloomfield Police Department, had an addition 2021 Dodge Charger Hellcat and a 2017 Dodge Charger stolen.

A $225,368 total value of stolen vehicles was recovered.

On April 21, 2023, multiple search warrants were conducted in Essex County, specifically;

• 41 North 21st Street 2nd Floor, East Orange, NJ
• 671 Lincoln Ave Apt 105, Orange, NJ
• 2007 Mercedes Benz (Target Vehicle)

Within all three locations, vehicle key fobs, programming equipment and a stolen infotainment system were located along with the main target of the investigation who was taken into custody, Wadner Etienne.

Eteinne was charged with the following:

• Receiving Stolen Property 2C:20-7a – 2nd Degree (multiple vehicles cumulatively valued at $863,414)
• Receiving Stolen Property 2C:20-7a – 2nd Degree (Carteret Infotainment) ∙ Burglary 2C:18-2a(1) – 3rd Degree (American Dream Mall)
• Burglary 2C:18-2a(1) – 3rd Degree (Belleville)
• Burglary 2C:18-2a(1) – 3rd Degree (Long Branch)
• Theft 2C:20-3a – 2nd Degree (Amboy Track hawk)
• Theft 2C:20-3a – 2nd Degree (Bloomfield Thefts)
• Theft 2C:20-3a – 2nd Degree (West Orange Thefts)
• Theft 2C:20-3a – 3rd Degree (Edgewater Theft)
• Theft 2C:20-3a – 2nd Degree (Little Falls Theft)
• Theft 2C:20-3a – 3rd Degree (Millburn Theft)
• Theft 2C:20-3a – 3rd Degree (Long Branch Theft)
• Burglary Tools 2C:5-5a(1) – Poss. of programmers and keys
• Fencing 2C:20-7.1b(1) – 2nd Degree (West Orange Hellcat, Long Branch Honda, Bakery Village Jeep)
• Criminal Mischief 2C:17-3a(1) – American Dream mall
• Conspiracy 2C:5-2a (1) – Conspiracy to commit RSP

All charges were placed on Complaint Warrant #: 0702 W 2023 000150 and Eteinne was transported to Essex County Correctional Facility without incident. Additional charges were placed on the following individuals who conspired with Etienne to commit motor vehicle thefts:

• Nigel Yates of Newark, NJ; 2 Counts of Conspiracy (to commit theft) 2C:5-2a (1) 3rd degree Warrant # W2023000160 - Entered as a wanted person (1 Bloomfield & 1 West Orange)

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