4 Luxury Car Theft Ring Members Charged In Statewide Heist: Union Co. Prosecutor

UNION COUNTY, NJ — Two juveniles and two adults were arrested and charged with participating in a state-wide luxury auto theft ring , Union County Prosecutor William Daniel announced Friday.

A four-month investigation found the two juveniles, a 16-year-old from Newark and a 17- year-old from Jersey City, would use stolen Kia, Honda and Hyundai vehicles to look for high end luxury vehicles including BMWs, Mercedes, Range Rovers and Audis, said Daniel.

The juveniles then would go to target residences and search for keys/key fobs. Once they got the vehicles, they would contact Tikeem Shearin, 18, and Carlos Espinal, 19, both of Newark, who would direct them to people who would buy the vehicles, said Daniel.

Nearly $1 million in stolen vehicles were taken during that period by the four arrested.

The theft and possession of stolen vehicle offenses occurred in Union, Roselle, Garwood, Kenilworth, Cranford, Hoboken, Jersey City, Maplewood, Englewood, Englewood Cliffs, Montville, Fair Lawn, Woodbridge, Irvington, Montclair, and Newark.

Shearin and Espinal were each charged with first-degree promotion of organized street crime, second-degree leader of an auto theft trafficking network, and second-degree conspiracy to commit auto theft.

In addition, Shearin was charged with 10 counts of second and third-degree receiving stolen motor vehicles and nine counts of second and third-degree fencing stolen motor vehicles.

Espinal was also charged with seven counts of second and third-degree receiving stolen vehicle(s), and five counts of second and third-degree fencing stolen motor vehicle(s).

Both are being held at the Essex County Jail on charges brought by the Union County Prosecutor.

The juveniles were charged with burglary, criminal attempt for burglary, conspiracy to commit theft of motor vehicles and to fence stolen motor vehicle(s), possession of stolen motor vehicles, and fencing of stolen motor vehicle(s), and as a participant in an auto theft trafficking network.

This investigation was the result of cooperation and collaboration by the Prosecutor’s Offices of Union, Hudson, Essex, Morris, Bergen and Middlesex Counties, as well as the Police Departments from Union Township, Kenilworth, Cranford, Garwood, Roselle, Maplewood, Fairfield, Irvington, Verona, Montclair, Cedar Grove, Newark, Woodbridge, Jersey City, Hoboken, Fair Lawn, Englewood Cliffs, Englewood, and Montville.

"The arrests of these four individuals marks a significant step in dismantling a sophisticated car theft ring that has been operating throughout the State of New Jersey. This operation was a testament to the exceptional collaboration between law enforcement agencies spanning six counties. I want to also commend the steadfast efforts of Union County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Michael Tambini and Assistant Prosecutor Alaina Caliendo for coordinating this complex investigation. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to all other participating county and local police agencies for their excellent teamwork, resulting in the arrests of these four individuals," said Daniel.

This is an ongoing investigation and additional charges are expected. Anyone with information should contact Detective Michael Tambini at 908-527-4500.

Tips can also be submitted anonymously by phone at 908-654-TIPS (8477) or online at www.uctip.org, submission of tips made in this fashion that result in an arrest and indictment can be eligible for a reward up to $10,000 via the Union County Crime Stoppers.

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