5 Arrested For Morris Co. Car Thefts, Burglaries: Cops

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — Five men were arrested in connection to a string of car burglaries across Northern New Jersey, including in Morris Plains and East Hanover, North Caldwell police chief Mark Deuer said.

Local officers arrested two suspects after a foot chase in North Caldwell, Deuer said. A separate foot chase took place in Essex Fells when suspects "bailed out" of their vehicle and tried to escape officers from North Caldwell, Verona, Essex Fells and Caldwell.

The burglaries and thefts happened overnight Tuesday into Wednesday, police said. Morris Plains police noted that the burglarized cars were all unlocked, and one car was stolen. In East Hanover, many of the cars had valuables in plain sight, making them easy targets.

Deuer told NJ.com that a North Caldwell sergeant arrived on the 300 block of Mountain Avenue in North Caldwell around 4:40 a.m. after a resident called police upon seeing several masked men carrying flashlights running though a backyard.

The sergeant noticed two vehicles, each with several people inside and approached one of the cars, and one of the occupants grabbed the sergeant, held him against the window and dragged the officer several feet, Deuer said in the report.

Deuer said the officer was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and authorities made two sets of arrests before 6 a.m.

Police also found an Airsoft gun in one of the vehicles, NJ.com reported.

The arrestees and charges included an unnamed 17-year-old Newark male, as well as:

• Chigemezu Nwigwe, 18, of Maplewood - aggravated assault on a police officer, receiving stolen property, eluding, burglary, obstruction
• Daezhom Carter, 18, of Maplewood - receiving stolen property, eluding, obstruction
• Justin L. Wilson, 18, of Collingswood - receiving stolen property, conspiracy to commit burglary
• Idris Y. Carter, 19, of Newark - receiving stolen property, conspiracy to commit burglary

With previous reporting by Eric Kiefer, Patch Staff