Monmouth Junction Man And Woman Stole Car, Police Say

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — A Monmouth Junction man and woman were charged with stealing a car from the South Brunswick Home Depot parking lot, and the stolen vehicle was later recovered in the Whispering Woods development across the street, according to South Brunswick police.

Brady Kemp, 21, of Monmouth Junction, and Bryan McCall, 23, of Monmouth Junction, were arrested and charged with the motor vehicle theft, said South Brunswick Police Chief Raymond Hayducka.

Police think the duo stole the car keys from a shopper inside the Dollar Tree in that shopping complex, and ran off with the car.

The car was stolen from the parking lot off Rt. 1 on the afternoon of Friday, April 26, police say. A woman shopping in the Dollar Tree at that time said she checked her personal belongings and discovered that her car keys were stolen from inside the store. Her car was gone from the parking lot, as well.

She called 911 and reported the car stolen at 4:40 p.m. Friday afternoon, and gave police the make and model.

Last Wednesday, May 1, at 1 a.m. Officer Michael Hallman was driving through the Whispering Woods development when he observed people sitting in a car in the parking lot of the development’s clubhouse. Patrolman Hallman then stopped and spoke with the two individuals, Kemp and McCall, as they were walking away from the vehicle. Hallman conducted an inquiry on the license plate to their vehicle, which showed it was registered to a different make and model.

Hallman was then able to search the vehicle’s VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) through the DMV database, which indicated that the car was previously stolen from South Brunswick on April 26 at the Dollar Tree.

The diligence of Hallman and the consistent patrols of residential neighborhoods made this a successful case, said Chief Hayducka.

“Officers continuing to conduct checks of residential neighborhoods during their shifts and proactive policework led to the identification of two suspects in this case and the recovery of a stolen vehicle," said Chief Hayducka.

Kemp and McCall were arrested and charged with theft of movable property, receiving stolen property, and theft of mislaid property. They were both lodged at the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Center pending their first court appearance.