Man Steals Car With Baby, Mom Inside At NJ Gas Station: Police

SECAUCUS, NJ — A carjacking took place at a Secaucus gas station Saturday evening as a woman and a baby were inside a running car when a man jumped inside it and drove off, according to police.

This happened Saturday, Feb. 12 at the Shell on Rt. 3 east around 6:05 p.m. The car owner, who met police in the parking lot, told police he left his 2022 Nissan Altima running in the gas station parking lot with his girlfriend and their baby inside. He then went into the station's convenience store.

As the man came out of the store, he said he saw a man jump into the car and drive away — with his girlfriend and their baby still inside. In a dramatic moment, the man said he ran over to the car and grabbed onto the driver’s side door as it was pulling away, but he fell off and suffered minor injuries.

The suspect sped away toward the area of Clarendon and Seventh streets.

Police say the suspect then abandoned the stolen vehicle and fled on foot toward the catwalk that goes over Rt. 3. The baby and the mother were not injured.

The alleged car thief was later identified as Raymond Scott, 18, of East Orange.

Police dogs from the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office were called in to help find the suspect Saturday evening, but he could not be located.

However, the next morning, at 9:15 a.m., Secaucus Police responded to Mallard Place where a homeowner reported that their home had just been burglarized while the residents were home. During the burglary, credit cards, ID cards and more were stolen from the resident’s purse.

A witness to the burglary provided a description to responding police officers and they said the suspect fled toward the Extended Stay Hotel on Meadowlands Parkway.

Secaucus police officers went to the hotel, attempted to handcuff and detain Scott, however he resisted the police officers’ control. Once handcuffed, Scott made an attempt to run away and escape custody by fleeing toward the stairway, said police.

Scott was identified as the person who committed the carjacking the night. Police said they found additional evidence from the carjacking that tied him to that crime.

Scott was charged with carjacking, two counts of kidnapping, two counts of burglary, two counts of aggravated assault on a police officer and obstruction, escape, resisting arrest, two counts of theft and credit card theft.

He was taken to the Hudson County Jail.

This is the second major crime to happen at a Secaucus gas station in one week: Last week, Patch reported how the BP gas station in the center of Secaucus was robbed at gunpoint just past 12 p.m. on Feb. 4.

One arrest was made in that incident; the second suspect still remains at large.

Car thefts while cars are left running is a problem every winter in North Jersey: A 22-year-old East Orange man was charged after a car was stolen in Maplewood with a 1-year-old baby sleeping in the car seat in back. That happened Feb. 3.

Prior: Secaucus Gas Station Robbed At Gunpoint Feb. 4

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