On Tuesday morning, officers responded to the area of Highland Avenue after receiving information that a stolen 2019 Mercedes Benz from Newark was tracking in the area. Officers responded and located the parked vehicle. The engine was running and unoccupied. While on the scene, Newark Police contacted Montclair Police and reported that they saw a 2023 Audi SQ8 in Newark traveling at a high rate of speed. The vehicle registration came back to a Highland Avenue address in Montclair. When officers arrived at the location they discovered a burglary took place. They contacted the homeowner, who was out of the country. When viewing surveillance, the resident confirmed a burglary did take place and the individuals also stole his vehicle.
The surveillance video shows at approximately 4:59 a.m., two young males walked to the rear of the property and entered through a window. Both males wore gloves and one carried a crowbar. It appears the individual utilized the crowbar to enter the home. Once inside, they located the keys to the Audi and fled with the car, leaving the stolen Mercedes behind.
Immediately, Montclair Detectives were in contact with the New Jersey State Police Regional Operations Intelligence Center and surrounding jurisdictions. The State Police Auto Theft Task Force was notified as well. Detectives continued tracking the vehicle through Audi Tracking and were provided constant updates.
Individuals Charged
At approximately 1:30 p.m., members of the New Jersey State Police Auto Theft Task Force located the stolen Audi at the Vince Lombardi rest area on the New Jersey Turnpike in Ridgefield, NJ. After a brief foot pursuit, police apprehended five individuals and took them. All five individuals are repeat offenders of residential burglary and recidivist motor vehicle theft offenders. New Jersey State Police charged all individuals.
Montclair Detectives interviewed the individuals regarding the Montclair Burglary. In addition, Montclair PD recovered and processed the Audi.
Two juvenile males, ages 16 and 17, from Newark were charged by Montclair Detectives with burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, motor vehicle theft, and conspiracy to commit motor vehicle theft for the burglary on Highland Avenue.
“This is an exceptional example of interagency cooperation resulting in the arrests of five recidivist offenders just hours after the residential burglary and motor vehicle theft in Montclair,” said Chief Todd Conforti.
Kudos to the MPD and coordinated & timely support of the other agencies in these arrests. This is progress.
However, it also illustrates the limits of residents’ actions such as locking windows & doors, security cameras and security lighting. As far as hiding car keys in the house. No way!!! My car is insured and can be replaced. We will not create the added risk to our safety as armed thieves search our home for the car key. Rock, paper, crowbar?