Police Catch 14-Year-Old Boy Driving Stolen Car In Millburn

MILLBURN, NJ — The Millburn police say that when they stopped a stolen car on Tuesday evening, they found two teens inside. The teens were charged with a number of crimes.

Police say that at 5:21 p.m. on Tuesday, May 16, Police Detective DeRosa saw a stolen 2021 Kia sedan traveling on Wyoming Avenue near Cypress Street. It had been stolen from Newark.

Detective DeRosa attempted to stop the car, but it eluded him, police say.

DeRosa pursued the vehicle onto Milton Street, where it became disabled. The three occupants got out of the car and ran behind a residence on Milton Street, police say.

Detective DeRosa chased the driver to the Maplewood Country Club and caught him. He was a 14-year-old boy from Newark, police say.

A short time later, Detective Mendelsohn and Officer Matos apprehended the front-seat passenger, a 15-year-old from Newark, police say.

The police were unable to locate the third occupant, they say.

The driver was charged with juvenile delinquency for eluding, resisting arrest, receiving stolen property, and related offenses. He was brought to Essex County Youth Correctional Facility.

The passenger was charged with juvenile delinquency for receiving stolen property, obstruction, and resisting arrest, and released to his parents.

Last year, two New Jersey lawmakers said that car thefts are an "epidemic" in the state, and that gangs have been recruting teens to help commit the crimes because they face shorter sentences than adults.

Read more about car thefts in Millburn here: Recent Millburn Car Thefts And Crime To Be Addressed In Police Forum