Passaic County Men Charged In Paramus Car Theft

PARAMUS, NJ – A Passaic County duo faces charges after police say they were found with the keys of vehicles stolen in Paramus and Paterson.

After the arrests of Michael Acosta, 18, of Paterson, and Edras Mendoza, 20, of Passaic, authorities launched a nearly two-week investigation to find the cars belonging to the keys, Paramus Police Chief Kenneth Ehrenberg said.

Officers originally encountered the men on July 19, when police were called to the area of Linwood Avenue and Godwin Road on a report of two suspicious males walking around the neighborhood, the chief said.

The men – later identified as Acosta and Mendoza – told responding officers they were going to visit relatives at a home on Jersey Place, Ehrenberg said.

“Officers went to that location where they determined that the suspects were not being truthful,” the chief said.

Additionally, police found Mendoza in possession of marijuana, as well as two sets of car keys on both men, according to Ehrenberg.

Following an investigation by Detectives Mark Pinajian and Jack Cacamis, police determined one set of car keys belonged to a Kia Sorrento that was reported stolen from a Lambert Place home on July 18 and the other set was for a Chevy Silverado truck that was taken from a Paterson residence, the chief said.

“As a result of their investigation and the assistance of an observant resident, a 2014 Chevy Silverado Pickup truck was located in a Paramus neighborhood near the original crimes,” Ehrenberg said. “On August 1, 2019, the Kia Sorrento stolen from Walnut Street was located within the City of Passaic.

Both Mendoza and Acosta were charged with possession of stolen vehicles, according to the chief. Mendoza faces an additional charge for marijuana possession as well.

Authorities are continuing to investigate reports of a car theft ring that has struck several Bergen County communities, including Paramus, and additional arrests are expected, the chief said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Paramus Police Department at 201-262-3400 or the department’s TIPS App located at www.paramuspolice.org.