Armed Robbery In Backyard Of Secaucus Home On Third Street

SECAUCUS, NJ — People said they were robbed at gunpoint Saturday in the backyard of a home on Third Street in Secaucus, where they said sneakers and several thousand dollars' worth of jewelry were stolen.

Just a few hours later, Secaucus police arrested three people, two of them residents of Secaucus, and charged them in connection to the incident. The stolen sneakers, jewelry, a handgun loaded with blank bullets, a switchblade knife, a hatchet and marijuana were also found on the trio, said police.

The incident began at approximately 9:52 p.m. Saturday, when two victims entered Secaucus police headquarters and told police they had been robbed at gunpoint in the backyard of a home on the 700 block of Third Street.

One of the victims suffered a minor head injury during the robbery when he was struck with a handgun. Both victims’ sneakers and several thousand dollars’ worth of jewelry were stolen, said police.

Secaucus police said the suspect lived on Third Street, and started watching the Third Street home. Just a few hours later, after midnight Sunday, Aug. 9 Secaucus police said they saw James J. Baker, 20, of Secaucus, exit the home wearing the same clothing as one of the suspects, along with the stolen sneakers.

Baker was found in possession of a handgun in his waistband and was arrested, said police. When he was arrested, he was also wearing a necklace that belonged to one of the victims. He was also found in possession of a “switchblade” knife, a hatchet, a quantity of suspected marijuana and Alprazolam pills, said police.

Secaucus police then did a search of another suspect’s home on Third Street, where they said they found jewelry and the second pair of stolen sneakers. Additionally, a quantity of suspected marijuana along with a handgun loaded with “blank” ammunition were seized.

As a result, James Pena, 25, of Secaucus, and Jacquelin Romero were placed under arrest.

“I want to thank the Hudson County Regional SWAT Team and Hudson County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team for their assistance in this investigation,” Chief Dennis Miller said. “I also want to commend the collaborative effort between the different divisions and units within the Secaucus Police Department, which directly led to these arrests within hours of the initial report.”

James J. Baker, 20 and James Pena, 25, both of Secaucus were each charged with armed robbery [2C:15-1a(1)], Possession of a Firearm for an Unlawful Purpose [2C:39-4a(1)], Theft [2C:20-3a], Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery [2C:5-2/2C:15-1a(1)], Conspiracy to Commit Theft [2C:5-2/2C:20-3a] and Possession of Marijuana [2C:35-10a(4)]. James J. Baker was additionally charged with two counts of Unlawful Possession of a Weapon [2C:39-5d], Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon [2C:12-1b(2)], Possession of Aprazolam [2C:35-10a(1)], and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia [2C:36-2]. James Pena was additionally charged with Certain Persons Not to Possess a Firearm [2C:39-7b(1)].

Jacquelin Romero, 20, of West New York, was charged with Theft [2C:20-3a], Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery [2C:5-2/2C:15-1a(1)], Conspiracy to Commit Theft [2C:5-2/2C:20-3a] and Possession of Marijuana [2C:35-10a(4)].

Baker and Pena were taken to the Hudson County Jail and Romero was released, all pending their appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court.

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