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Jarol Vasquez-Puig
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Freddy Mendoza-Polanco
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On December 30, 2024, Secaucus Police responded to the 500 block of New County Road on a report of an abandoned vehicle. When officers arrived, they located a 2015 Honda CRV missing its bumper, passenger side door and headlights. It was discovered the vehicle was stolen from Weehawken, NJ on December 28, 2024.
On January 1, 2025, Secaucus Police responded to the 200 Block of Secaucus Road on report of an abandoned vehicle. When officers arrived, they located a 2023 Acura TLX missing its bumper, grill and wheels. It was discovered the vehicle was stolen from Kenilworth, NJ on December 31, 2024.
Detectives from the Secaucus Police Department’s Anti-Crime Unit received information that the bumper and rims/tires from the aforementioned stolen Acura were being sold. While acting in an undercover capacity, detectives from the Anti-Crime Unit made arrangements with the seller(s) to purchase the some of the stolen automobile parts on Myrtle Avenue in Jersey City.
On January 3, 2025, Undercover Detectives from the Secaucus Police Anti-Crime Unit purchased the Acura’s stolen rims/tires from Jarol Vasquez-Puig and Freddy Mendoza-Polanco in front of Jarol Vasquez-Puig’s Myrtle Avenue residence. Subequently, they were both placed under arrest by members of the Secaucus Police Department Anti-Crime Unit and Jersey City Police Department’s Intelligence Unit.
During a consensual search of Jarol Vasquez-Puig’s residence, Detectives located numerous automobile parts strewn throughout the backyard and alleyway. Amongst the automobile parts, the bumper stolen from the aforementioned 2023 Acura and the passenger door stolen from the aforementioned Honda CRV were recovered. Also, a license plate from a stolen Honda was also recovered. Additionally, Detectives located a ‘Jiajue’ motorcyle in Jarol Vasquez-Puig’s backyard that was found to have been stolen in Jersey City on December 6, 2024.
“Secaucus will not be the dumping ground for stolen vehicles any longer,” Chief Dennis Miller said. “My Detectives will exhaust every lead to identify criminals who enter into our locale solely to commit nefarious acts. They have my authorization to use whatever resources are necessary to bring those involved to justice. Collaboratively working with and sharing intelligence with other law enforcement agencies, like the Jersey City Police Department in this case, is the only way we can prevail against criminals who have no borders. I am proud of my Detectives’ investigative work and I commend all involved in this case.”
Jarol Vasquez-Puig, 18, of Jersey City and Freddy Mendoz-Polanco, 38, of Bayonne were each charged with Receiving Stolen Property [2C:20-7a], Fencing [2C:20-7.1b(1)] and Conspriacy to Commit Fencing [2C:5-2/2C:20-7.1b(1)]. Jarol Vasquez-Puig was additionally charged with Operation of a Facility for Sale of Stolen Automobile Parts [2C:20-16a] along with a second count of Receiving Stolen Property [2C:20-7a]. Jarol Vasquez-Puig was also charged by the Jersey City Police Department with Receiving a Stolen Motor Vehicle [2C:20-10.2]. He was lodged in the Hudson County Jail while Freddy Mendoz-Polanco released, pending his appearance in Court.
The investigation is ongoing and additional charges and arrests 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.
