Teens Charged With Breaking Into Cars In Secaucus

SECAUCUS, NJ — On Wednesday, July 10, Secaucus Police detectives arrested a teen boy who they say they observed breaking into cars parked on 4th Street last month, and running off into a stolen Kia.

This was at 4:57 a.m. June 16, when Secaucus Police Officer Christopher Miller was patrolling the 600 block of 4th Street and saw a teenage boy in the process of breaking into an Audi Q5 and Jeep Wrangler, which were parked in front of a 4th Street residence.

Miller observed the young man run toward an awaiting Kia Sportage, where the occupants were wearing ski masks. The Kia fled.

Miller attempted to stop the Kia Sportage, which was discovered to have been stolen from Jersey City on June 12.

The Kia refused to stop and a chase of the vehicle was pursued though Jersey City into Bayonne and back into Jersey City, where it was ultimately terminated.

Then, in the late morning hours of June 16, more car break-ins were reported, this time on the 700 block of 10th Street.

Police say they suspected the occupants of the stolen Kia were also responsible for these burglaries and thefts.

The stolen Kia Sportage was recovered in Jersey City on June 18 by the Jersey City Police Department. While processing the stolen vehicle for evidence, Secaucus Detectives discovered that the vehicle had suffered two bullet holes.

The teenage boy arrested Wednesday was identified as a 16-year-old of Orange, NJ and was charged with four counts of Burglary [2C:18-2a(1)], Criminal Attempt to Commit Burglary [2C:5-1/2C:18-2a(1)], four counts of Conspiracy to Commit Burglary [2C:5-2/2C:18 2a(1)], Receiving a Stolen Vehicle [2C:20-10.2A], four counts of Criminal Attempt to Commit Theft of a Motor Vehicle [2C:5-1/2C:20-10.1(a)] and Theft of Moveable Property [2C:20-3(a)].

He was taken to the Morris County Youth Detention Facility.

Then on Friday (July 12) Secaucus Police detectives also arrested a 17-year-old Jersey City teen and charged him with four counts of Burglary [2C:18-2a(1)], Criminal Attempt to Commit Burglary [2C:5-1/2C:18-2a(1)], four counts of Conspiracy to Commit Burglary [2C:5-2/2C:18 2a(1)], Receiving a Stolen Vehicle [2C:20-10.2A], four counts of Criminal Attempt to Commit Theft of a Motor Vehicle [2C:5-1/2C:20-10.1(a)] and Theft of Moveable Property [2C:20-3(a)].

Due to him already being on electronic monitoring, he was released from custody.

Also on July 12 a 16-year-old female of Jersey City, NJ was arrested and charged by the Secaucus Police Anti-Crime Unit; police say she was observed inside the stolen Kia Sportage. She was charged with Receiving a Stolen Vehicle [2C:20-10.2A] and released to the custody of her parents.

"I fully support the decision making to pursue these criminals in an attempt to protect the property of our residents, which was in compliance with current pursuit directives,” Chief Dennis Miller said. “The police officers involved here highlight that our officers are out there attempting to curtail criminal activity when our residents are asleep. Recovering the stolen vehicle with damage from gunfire once again highlights that the juveniles committing car thefts are not just children out for joyride, they are criminals that need to be held accountable.”