$1M Car Theft Ring Targeted Essex County Towns, Among Others: UCPO

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Police have arrested four people in connection with an “auto theft trafficking network” that has been accused of committing home burglaries and stealing cars across New Jersey, including in Essex County.

Investigators said they documented nearly $1 million in stolen vehicles, with theft and possession of stolen vehicle offenses taking place in Irvington, Maplewood, Montclair and Newark, as well as Union, Roselle, Garwood, Kenilworth, Cranford, Hoboken, Jersey City, Englewood, Englewood Cliffs, Montville, Fair Lawn and Woodbridge.

Here’s how it worked, according to the Union County Prosecutor’s Office:

“The four-month investigation revealed the two juveniles – a 16-year-old from Newark and a 17-year-old from Jersey City – would use stolen Kia, Honda and Hyundai vehicles to look for high end luxury vehicles including BMWs, Mercedes, Range Rovers and Audis. After identifying target vehicles, they would go to target residences and search for keys/key fobs. Once they got the vehicles, they would contact the adults, who would direct them to individuals who would buy the vehicles.”

Authorities announced the following charges against the four accused defendants:

“Tikeem Shearin, 18, and Carlos Espinal, 19, both of Newark were each charged with first-degree promotion of organized street crime, second-degree leader of an auto theft trafficking network, and second-degree conspiracy to commit auto theft. In addition, Shearin was charged with 10 counts of second and third-degree receiving stolen motor vehicles and nine counts of second and third-degree fencing stolen motor vehicles. Espinal was also charged with seven counts of second and third-degree receiving stolen vehicle(s), and five counts of second and third-degree fencing stolen motor vehicle(s). The juveniles were charged with burglary, criminal attempt for burglary, conspiracy to commit theft of motor vehicles and to fence stolen motor vehicle(s), possession of stolen motor vehicles, and fencing of stolen motor vehicle(s), and as a participant in an auto theft trafficking network.”

Shearin and Espinal are being held at the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark on charges brought by the Union County Prosecutor, authorities said Friday.

Authorities said the investigation was the result of cooperation and collaboration by the prosecutor’s offices of Union, Hudson, Essex, Morris, Bergen and Middlesex counties, as well as the police departments from Union Township, Kenilworth, Cranford, Garwood, Roselle, Maplewood, Fairfield, Irvington, Verona, Montclair, Cedar Grove, Newark, Woodbridge, Jersey City, Hoboken, Fair Lawn, Englewood Cliffs, Englewood and Montville.

The Union County Prosecutor’s Office made the Sept. 12 arrests in collaboration with the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and police departments in Newark, Roselle, Cranford, Jersey City, Woodbridge, Verona, Englewood, Montville and Cedar Grove.

A police investigation continues. Authorities said anyone with information can contact Det. Michael Tambini at 908-527-4500. Tips can also be submitted anonymously by phone at 908-654-TIPS (8477) or online at www.uctip.org.

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