Arrest Warrants Issued for Alleged Car Burglars

Police are searching for three men who have been linked to a vehicle burglary and theft ring that victimized Mendham Township residents.

Jamar Judd, 24, Jahid Vauters, 25, and Marcus Brent, 19, have all been charged in connection to a string of vehicle burglaries and are considered suspects in a series of auto thefts, police Lt. Vito Abrusci said. They remain at large.

Four vehicles were burglarized on May 14 in the Ralston section of Mendham, and a Range Rover and 2008 Infinity were stolen in separate incidents, Abrusci has said. The thieves were able to steal the vehicles without much effort, as both vehicles were left unlocked with keys inside, the lieutenant said.

In the ensuing investigation, Mendham Township Detective Dan Taquinto worked with the Morris County Sheriff's Office to develop leads that led to arrest warrants for Judd, Vauters and Brent, Abrusci said.

"The Mendham Township Police Department considered these individuals' actions to the safety of our residents very seriously and took swift action to identify them," Abrusci said.

Judd and Vauters were identified from a surveillance video from a home security system as the suspected car burglars on May 14, he said. Both have been charged with burglary to a motor vehicle.

Brent was charged with receiving stolen property, after a vehicle was recovered in Newark on May 18. Brent's fingerprints were lifted from the vehicle by members of the Morris County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Section, Abrusci said.

Each face 25,000 bail with no 10 percent option, the lieutenant said.

Abrusci asks residents to remain vigilant, keep their cars locked and keys secured.

"We are requesting that our residents continue to be dilligent and limit their vulnerability as a victim," Abrusci has said.

Call police immediately at 973-543-2584 to report any suspicious incidents.