On January 20, 2021 at 3:28 A.M., a resident of Pandolfi Avenue called the Secaucus Police Department and reported that four individuals burglarized his family member’s parked vehicle. After the reporting party approached the individuals, they fled the area in a Black Toyota Corolla, which was found to be stolen out of Philadelphia, PA on 1/13/21.
The first responding officer observed the stolen vehicle fleeing the scene in the area of Centre Avenue. The stolen vehicle failed to stop when signaled to do so and eluded police, therefore a vehicular pursuit was initiated. The pursuit continued through North Bergen, Union City, Weehawken and ended on the 1600 Block of Clinton Street in Hoboken.
The driver and the front seat passenger fled the scene on foot. With the assistance of the Hoboken Police Department, Kasia Rodriguez and a 17-year-old female juvenile were arrested in the vehicle. A 17-year-old male juvenile passenger who fled on foot, was detained by Hoboken and Weehawken Police, after running toward Park Avenue in Weehawken. The driver of the stolen vehicle is still at large, despite a search with a K-9 from the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office.
The arrestees were found in possession of stolen property from a majority of the twenty-one (21) vehicles that were burglarized on Secaucus’ residential streets. Additionally, an imitation firearm was found within the stolen vehicle.
“I am extremely proud of my officers’ determination and diligent efforts in making these arrests, and I fully support their decision making,” Chief Dennis Miller said. “I want to thank the Hoboken and Weehawken Police Departments and the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance.” “Additionally, I cannot stress enough that residents need to lock their car doors and never approach someone suspected of committing a crime, please just call 9-1-1!”
Kasia Rodriguez, 19 of Brooklyn, NY, a 17-year-old female from Chambersburg, PA and a 17-year-old male from Brooklyn, NY were all charged with two counts of Receiving Stolen Property [2C:20-7], multiple counts of Burglary [2C:18-2] and Theft [2C:20-3a], Conspiracy to Commit Burglary [2C:5-2/2C:18-2a] and Possession of an Imitation Firearm [2C:39-4e]. The 17-year-old male from Brooklyn, NY was additionally charged with Resisting Arrest by Flight [2C:29-2a(2)]. Kasia Rodriguez was additionally charged with two counts of Using 17-year-old or Younger to Commit a Criminal Offense [2C:24-9]. Kasia Rodriguez was released pending her appearance in Court and both juveniles were released to responsible adults.
Anyone with additional information on this incident or if they did not initially report their vehicle was burglarized, can contact the Secaucus Police Detective Division at (201) 330-2052 or detectivedivsion@secaucus.net. These charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
