On June 16, 2024 at 4:57 A.M., Secaucus Police Officer Christopher Miller was patrolling the 600 block of 4th Street. While patrolling, a male was in the process of breaking into an Audi Q5 and Jeep Wrangler, which were parked in front of a 4th Street residence. Police Officer Miller observed a male run toward an awaiting Kia Sportage, where the occupants were wearing ski-masks and flee the area.
Police Officer Christopher Miller attempted to stop the Kia Sportage, which was discovered to have been stolen from Jersey City on June 12, 2024. The stolen vehicle refused to stop and a vehicular pursuit was initiated. The stolen vehicle was pursued though Jersey City into Bayonne and back into Jersey City, however the pursuit was ultimately terminated.
In the late morning hours of June 16, 2024, additional burglaries, an attempted burglary and a theft from vehicles parked on the 700 block of 10th Street were reported to the Secaucus Police Department. The investigation revealed that the occupants of the stolen Kia were also responsible for these burglaries and thefts.
On June 18, 2024 the stolen Kia Sportage was recovered in Jersey City by the Jersey City Police Department. While processing the stolen vehicle for evidence, Secaucus Detectives discovered that the vehicle had suffered two bullet defects.
After an exhaustive investigation, on July 10, 2024, Detectives from the Secaucus Police Anti-Crime Unit arrested the juvenile male who was observed burglarizing the vehicles on 4th Street and running into the stolen Kia. This male 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.
On July 12, 2024, Detectives from the Secaucus Police Anti-Crime Unit arrested a 17-year-old male of Jersey City, NJ who 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)]. Due to him already being on electronic monitoring, he was released from custody.
Also on July 12, 2024 a 16-year-old female of Jersey City, NJ was arrested and charged by the Secaucus Police Anti-Crime Unit since 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.”
The investigation is ongoing and additional arrests and/or charges may follow. Anyone with additional information can contact the Secaucus Police Detective Division at (201) 330-2052 or detectivedivsion@secaucusnjpolice.gov. These charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
