Teen, 16, Arrested In North Brunswick Theft Of State Police Car

NORTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — A 16-year-old North Brunswick boy has been arrested and charged with stealing a state trooper's unmarked patrol car from his driveway Sunday morning and taking it on a crime-filled joyride throughout Central Jersey, State Police announced Thursday.

New Jersey State Police said they arrested the 16-year-old, unnamed because he is a minor, and charged him with burglary, robbery, impersonating a law enforcement officer and theft by unlawful taking. There were two department-issued guns in the SUV as well, and the teen was also charged with weapons offenses. The guns have been recovered.

Patch reported on the stunning alleged crime when it first occurred Sunday, Dec. 17: The state trooper reported his troop SUV stolen at about 9:39 a.m. Sunday when he discovered it missing from the driveway of his North Brunswick home. The troop car contained several uniforms, the two weapons and other equipment. Related: State Police Car Stolen In North Brunswick, Used In 3 Robberies

Detectives determined the SUV was involved in four incidents early Sunday morning: At 5:45 a.m., a truck driver was stopped southbound on the New Jersey Turnpike near Interchange 10. The teen identified himself as a trooper and requested money from the driver as a fine for speeding. The driver refused and the suspect drove away. The victim reported the incident the following day, so it was originally not in the initial news reports.

Then at 6:50 a.m. Sunday, a truck driver reported a robbery to State Police after he was stopped by the suspect using the stolen troop car on the New Jersey Turnpike southbound at milepost 74.7 in South Brunswick. During the interaction, the suspect stole cash from the driver.

At 7:19 a.m., the suspect fueled the troop car at a gas station on St. George Avenue in Colonia, N.J. and left without paying. Then, at 7:30 a.m., the suspect stopped a cab at the Woodbridge Center Mall in Woodbridge, N.J. and stole cash from the driver. No weapons were brandished during any of the incidents, and the troop car was recovered later that day in New Brunswick.

State police did not have a description of the suspect, but they said they were able to come up with a DNA profile of the teen based on forensic analysis of evidence recovered during the investigation. The teen was arrested Wednesday, Dec. 20. Later that day, the two department-issued weapons were recovered in the area of Dogwood Court in New Brunswick.

The teen was lodged at the Middlesex County Juvenile Detention Center in lieu of bail.

Photo via New Jersey State Police