Carjacking In Wawa Parking Lot Under Investigation: Lacey Police

LACEY, NJ — Lacey police are currently seeking information from the public for an investigation into a carjacking that happened Sunday night in the Wawa parking lot.

Officers responded to the area of Lacey Road and Arlington Avenue at 11 p.m. for a report of a vehicle left in the middle of the road. The vehicle was described as a white BMW SUV with extensive damage with no one around it, police said.

Police found that the BMW was reported stolen from Muttonville, New York. A witness described that two male suspects exited the BMW and approached him for help. The witness felt unsafe and drove away without further contact, police said.

While officers were investigating the first incident, Officer Patrick Watkins was flagged down in the parking lot of Wawa at 800 Lacey Rd. by a woman claiming that her vehicle was just stolen.

Investigation at the scene revealed that two suspects approached a man who was sitting in his Lincoln MKZ in the Wawa lot, police said.

One of the suspects demanded that the man exit his car and began pulling at his shirt from the open window. While he was fighting off the suspect, a second suspect entered the passenger door and attempted to pull him out, police said.

Both men then entered a second vehicle parked in the lot, a 2021 Kia Optima, that was running unoccupied. The owner of the vehicle reported that as she exited the store, one suspect jumped in her vehicle on the passenger side while the other suspect pushed her out of the way at the driver’s side door, police said.

The suspects stopped to pick up two additional suspects prior to fleeing the lot. Police believe all four suspects are connected with the BMW recovered on Lacey Road.

The vehicle stolen from Wawa was found abandoned in Manalapan on Monday.

Anyone with information pertaining to the incident should contact the Lacey Township Detective Bureau at 609- 693-6636.

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