Burglary In West Caldwell Was Part Of Large Car Theft Ring: NJAG

CALDWELLS, NJ — Authorities recently announced charges against 11 people who allegedly ran a car theft ring that committed multiple home burglaries in New Jersey, including one in West Caldwell.

The West Caldwell Police Department released the following details about a home burglary that took place in the township earlier this year:

“Just before 5:30 a.m. on Jan. 17, West Caldwell police officers responded to a home invasion-style burglary at a Forest Avenue residence, during which the homeowner’s BMW X7 was stolen. Moments later, Roseland police observed our stolen vehicle and another suspect vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed along Route 280.”

According to the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, the West Caldwell burglary was part of a series of crimes that took place in November, December and January (see map below).

On Friday, state prosecutors released more details about the alleged auto theft ring, which has been accused of targeting expensive vehicles and burglarizing homes to get key fobs. The perpetrators then stored the cars in parking garages in the Bronx, New York – where they were fenced and shipped overseas to West African countries, authorities said.

Promoters or organizers of the enterprise identified their targets – including Land Rovers, Mercedes Benzes and BMWs – for theft crews that would allegedly then steal the vehicles.

The total value of the stolen vehicles linked to specific residential burglaries by the theft crews operating as part of this enterprise was approximately $542,295, authorities said.

Investigators eventually found 43 stolen New Jersey vehicles – valued at approximately $3.65 million – in two parking garages on Jennings Street and Third Avenue in the Bronx, prosecutors said.

Several stolen vehicles previously located in the garages on Jennings Street and Third Avenue in the Bronx were later recovered from shipping containers at ports in Elizabeth, New Jersey and Staten Island, New York, prosecutors alleged.

Last week, prosecutors announced charges against several alleged members of the auto theft ring (see list below). The promoters/organizers of the scheme, “Big G” and “E,” remain unidentified, authorities said.

Attorney General Matthew Platkin pointed out that car thefts in New Jersey have “decreased significantly” over the past year, and have continued to go down in 2025. Read More: New Shooting, Car Theft Data Released In NJ Shows 'Historic' Numbers

However, authorities are “committed to reducing them further,” Platkin added.

“We are working collaboratively to use every tool we have to return that sense of safety and security to our communities – including new laws, new technology, and information sharing between law enforcement agencies and between states to shut down car theft operations,” the attorney general said.

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