Alert Citizens Help Capture Car Thief In Collingswood: Police

COLLINGSWOOD, NJ — Two alert citizens helped police from Gloucester Township and Collingswood capture a suspected car thief on Thursday.

A running car was stolen from a Starbucks on Blackwood-Clementon Road at about 7:30 a.m. Thursday morning, according to the Gloucester Township Police Department. An alert citizen contacted police and told them they saw the theft and followed the car into a nearby neighborhood.

The witness continued to provide updated locations and the suspect description to police, helping them to find the car traveling north on Route 42 near Blackwood-Clementon Road. Officers followed the vehicle, in heavy traffic and at slow speeds, until they deemed it safe to try to pull the car over, police said.

However, once they turned their sirens on, the car took off. What began as a slow-speed pursuit escalated into a high-speed chase, leading police to back off out of a concern for safety for the general public. The car exited onto Route 130 north toward Route 168.

Police alerted surrounding jurisdictions, and another alert citizen sprang into action. This time, a witness told Collingswood police they saw the car turn off Route 130 for a flat tire, police said. Police arrived in time to see a man identified as 19-year-old Kasien Wolf, of Camden, exiting the car. Wolf was arrested without further incident.

The car was recovered and returned to its owner with minimal damage. Wolf was transported to Collingswood Police Department Headquarters, where he was charged with receiving stolen property.

He was then transported to Gloucester Township Police Department Headquarters, where he was charged with eluding, theft of motor vehicle and criminal mischief. He was also found to have an outstanding warrant for his arrest. He was remanded to the Camden County Correctional Facility in accordance with bail reform procedures.

“The quick arrest was the result of the witnesses seeing a crime in progress and doing the right thing calling 911,” police said. “This enabled officers to coordinate quickly with our neighboring jurisdictions and locate the vehicle even after the pursuit had been terminated for safety reasons. We would also like to remind the public that you should never leave your car running even if you think it will only be for a few seconds.”

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