Man Stole Keys From Bar, Swiped Car, Set It On Fire: Bergen County Prosecutor

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A man who set his keys down on a bar in Bergen County soon found out that someone had stolen them and set his car on fire, prosecutors said Monday.

The alleged thief, Troy R. Taylor, 60, of Hackensack, was charged with aggravated arson, theft, and other offenses Friday, said the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office.

Prosecutors said that early on Friday, just before 1:30 a.m., the Garfield Police Department received a report that a 2019 Honda Civic had been stolen from the area of Monroe Street.

The car's owner told them that he had placed the keys on the bar of a nearby tavern, then couldn't find them.

While police were talking to the man, other officers spotted a car fire on the 100 block of Monroe Street.

They confirmed that the vehicle in question was the missing car.

The Garfield Fire Department responded and put the fire out.

Detectives from the county's Arson Squad and Arson Task Force, investigated and determined that Taylor took the keys from the bar, stole the car, set it on fire, and walked away.

Taylor was charged with second-degree aggravated arson, third-degree arson, third-degree theft by unlawfully taking (motor vehicle), third-
degree criminal mischief, and fourth-degree failure to take responsible measure to put out, control, or report a fire.

He was taken to the Bergen County Jail to await his first appearance in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack.