Crime & Safety

Pandolfi Ave. Car Burglary In Secaucus Leads To Police Chase

Police were able to stop the car in Hoboken, and inside they said they found items from nearly 21 recent Secaucus car break-ins.

Kasia Rodriguez, 19, of Brooklyn, was charged with receiving stolen property, multiple counts of burglary and theft and possession of an imitation firearm.
Kasia Rodriguez, 19, of Brooklyn, was charged with receiving stolen property, multiple counts of burglary and theft and possession of an imitation firearm. (Secaucus police)

SECAUCUS, NJ — A Pandoli Avenue resident approached a group breaking into a parked car late Tuesday night, and the encounter led to a police chase through Hudson County, said Secaucus Police.

Police were able to stop the car in Hoboken, and inside they said they found items from nearly 21 recent Secaucus car break-ins. All 21 of the break-ins occurred in the pre-dawn hours of Wednesday, Jan. 20.

At 3:28 a.m. Wednesday, a resident on Pandolfi Avenue called Secaucus police to report that four individuals were breaking into his car, parked outside his home. The Pandolfi resident said he approached the individuals and they fled in a black Toyota Corolla.

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That car was found to be stolen out of Philadelphia on Jan. 13, said police.

The first responding officer observed the Toyota fleeing down Centre Avenue. Police said it failed to stop when lights and sirens were activated and a police pursuit continued through North Bergen, Union City and Weehawken, finally ending on the 1600 block of Clinton Street in Hoboken.

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The driver and front passenger fled on foot. Kasia Rodriguez, pictured, and a 17-year-old female juvenile were arrested inside the car.

A 17-year-old male juvenile who fled on foot was detained by Hoboken and Weehawken police after running toward Park Avenue in Weehawken. The driver of the stolen vehicle is still at large, despite a search with a K-9 from the Hudson County Sheriff.

Police say that the two arrested were found to be possession of stolen property from a majority of 21 cars that were broken into on Secaucus’ residential streets that same day, before dawn on Wednesday. The items ranged from banking cards, personal belonging (e.g. a purse) to electronics (a laptop), said Police Chief Dennis Miller.

Additionally, an imitation gun was found in the stolen Toyota, police charge.

Rodriguez, 19, of Brooklyn, a 17-year-old female from Chambersburg, PA and the 17-year-old male from Brooklyn were all charged with two counts of receiving stolen property, multiple counts of burglary and theft, conspiracy and possession of an imitation firearm. The young man, 17, was additionally charged with resisting arrest by flight. Rodriguez was additionally charged with two counts of using a minor to commit a crime.

Rodriguez was released pending her appearance in court and both juveniles were released to responsible adults.

Anyone with additional information on this incident, or if they did not initially report their car was burglarized, can contact the Secaucus Police Detective Division at (201) 330-2052 or detectivedivsion@secaucus.net.

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