6 Teens Charged Over 2 Weeks In Westfield Car Thefts

WESTFIELD, NJ — Police in suburban towns have been warning residents not to leave their cars unlocked, and in the case of Westfield, the chief believes the residents are being targeted for their "demonstrated complacency."

This year, 19 motor vehicles have been stolen and 40 have been burglarized in apparent attempted vehicle thefts in Westfield, the vast majority of which were left unlocked with keys inside, police said.

In the last two weeks, the Westfield police have arrested two sets of teenagers from other cities in connection with local car thefts.

On Thursday night, Westfield Police Chief Christopher Battiloro announced the arrest of three teens in connection with a car theft the morning before.

According to police, they responded on Wednesday to a report of a vehicle fleeing the scene of an attempted motor vehicle burglary. The attempt took place on the 500 block of Topping Hill Road at 6:27 a.m., police said.

After police got the report Wednesday morning, they transmitted the information to the Mountainside Police Department, which located the vehicle in question on Wychwood Road near Cherry Lane in Westfield.

It was occupied by three teens and a fourth person who was not charged, police said. A subsequent investigation by Westfield Police Department detectives resulted in criminal charges, which were approved by the Union County Prosecutor’s Office.

The three arrested were, according to the town:

• Delano Fletcher, 18, of East Orange, charged with burglary (a third degree crime), accomplice to a burglary (a third degree crime) and theft (a disorderly persons offense).
• Qausin Lee, 19, of East Orange, charged with receiving stolen property (a disorderly persons offense) and hindering apprehension (a disorderly persons offense). He was also charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, namely crack cocaine (a third degree crime), and possession of drug paraphernalia (a disorderly persons offense).
• Jawaun Whitted, 18, of Newark, charged with burglary (a 3rd degree crime), attempted burglary (a third degree crime), theft (a disorderly persons offense) and receiving stolen property (a disorderly persons offense).

All three were released on their own recognizance after being processed and served with complaint summonses.

“Make no mistake,” stated Chief Battiloro, “Westfield residents and their unlocked motor vehicles are being targeted by criminals for their demonstrated complacency. These arrests, and the ones announced last week, unquestionably affirm that,” he added.

Last week's teens

The previous Friday, Aug. 7, Battiloro announced the arrest of two 19-year-olds and a 16-year old from Newark.

Nasir Johnson, 19, and Giavannii Farris, 19, and a 16 year-old male juvenile, were arrested Aug. 5 in the Upper Clinton Hill neighborhood of Newark by detectives from the Westfield Police Department and members of the New Jersey State Police Auto Theft Task Force. The agencies have been working together to combat the town's vehicle thefts.

Names of juveniles are usually withheld from publication.

The three were charged with two counts of receiving stolen property, a third degree crime.

Johnson and Farris were released from custody on their own recognizance after being served with summonses. The juvenile was subsequently remanded to the Essex County Juvenile Detention Center.

Battiloro announced Friday that additionally, three motor vehicles recently stolen from Westfield were recovered. These were stolen from residences on Stoneleigh Park, Dudley Court, and Orenda Circle.

“I am grateful for our working relationship with the New Jersey State Police,” said Chief Battiloro, who noted a Westfield Police Department detective has been assigned to the Auto Theft Task Force since March to help combat the ongoing vehicle theft problem facing suburban New Jersey municipalities.

How many cars?

Of the cars stolen from Westfield this year, all but one were recovered.

“Our officers and detectives are working extremely hard to combat vehicle thefts, but our residents must do their part as well,” stated Chief Battiloro. “We cannot continue to leave our vehicles unlocked with the key fobs in them."

" Vehicle thefts not only have a financial impact on owners and insurance companies, but they can often lead to dangerous encounters when members of law enforcement interact with those in stolen vehicles," stated Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. "We are committed to working alongside our partners within the New Jersey State Police Auto Theft Task Force to combat these crimes and bring those responsible to justice," he added.

The year before, in 2019, there were 22 vehicles stolen from Westfield and another 70 burglarized.

Car stolen twice

Westfield isn't the only Union County town seeing numerous thefts of unlocked cars. Summit police routinely respond to car thefts in which the fob was left in the car. In fact, in July, one car was stolen twice, a few weeks apart.

Residents are urged to remove all valuables and lock their vehicles at all times. Additionally, they should immediately report all suspicious persons, vehicles and activities to the Westfield Police Department via 9-1-1.

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