Teen Carjacked Shopper Outside Supermarket In Burlington Co.: Police

LUMBERTON, NJ — A teen accused of a November carjacking in a Burlington County supermarket lot was arrested on Monday, authorities said.

The victim was loading groceries into their SUV outside ALDI in Lumberton on Nov. 18 when the suspect, later identified as Joao Castro, approached them with a knife, police said.

Castro, 18, demanded the victim to hand over their keys, authorities said. When the victim refused, Castro ran around the vehicle and entered through the passenger-side door. He then climbed into the driver's seat, pressed the push-to-start button and drove away, according to law enforcement.

The victim wasn't hurt, and the SUV was recovered in New York the next day.

Lumberton police reviewed surveillance footage, interviewed witnesses and examined forensic and electronic evidence, leading them to identify Castro as the suspect.

Castro was charged on a warrant with carjacking (first-degree), motor-vehicle theft (third-degree) and weapons offenses. He was arrested Monday and placed in the Burlington County Jail, pending an initial court appearance.