Jersey City Teens Broke Into Cars In Secaucus Townhome Complex: PD

SECAUCUS, NJ — Over the weekend, two teens from Jersey City were arrested by Secaucus Police; police say they used a Honda Pilot stolen out of Paramus to drive around and break into cars in Riverside Court.

This case started on January 11: At 5:30 a.m. on that date, Secaucus Police responded to Mallard Place in Riverside Court for a 911 call of several individuals wearing ski masks in the process of burglarizing vehicles.

When the first responding units arrived, a Honda Pilot was seen driving at a high rate of speed and narrowly missed striking a marked police vehicle. Secaucus Police saw the people in the car wearing ski masks and got the vehicle’s license plate, but lost sight of it almost immediately, due to its high rate of speed.

In total, three cars were broken into and attempts were made to burglarize four others.

The Honda Pilot showed up as stolen out of Paramus.

On January 18, the stolen Honda Pilot was recovered in Montclair and taken to the Secaucus Police Department where it was processed for evidence. While collecting evidence, SPD detectives from the Anti-Crime Unit recovered a bullet projectile that had been fired into the SUV. It is still unknown the circumstances as to how the car was struck by gunfire.

Under the supervision of Detective Sergeant Matthew Ford, Secaucus Police investigated how the Honda Pilot was stolen in Paramus and Secaucus Police arrested a 16-year-old boy on Friday, and a 17-year-old boy Saturday. Both teen boys live in Jersey City. Both were charged with three counts of Burglary [2C:18-2a(1)], four counts of Criminal Attempt to Commit Burglary [2C:5-1/2C:18-2a(1)], Conspriacy to Commit Burglary [2C:5-2/2C:18-2a(1)] and Receiving a Stolen Vehicle [2C:20-10.2].

Secaucus Police say they also discovered evidence linking the 17-year-old to a vehicle that was stolen from Secaucus on October 20, 2023. During the overnight hours on that date, the 17 year old, who was then a 15 year old, stole an Infiniti Q50 from the 200 block of Meadow Lane. The vehicle was subsequently recovered on November 17, 2023 in Union, NJ. Because of this evidence, the teen was charged with an additional count of Receiving a Stolen Vehicle [2C:20-10.2].

Both juveniles were released to their parents and placed on home detention until their appearance in court.

“The unfortunate reality is these juveniles are not fearful of repercussions and will continue to commit crimes until they are held accountable,” said Secaucus Police Chief Dennis Miller. "These are not just juveniles out joy riding. They are stealing cars, committing other burglaries and thefts and victimizing our neighborhoods. The recovery of a bullet from the stolen vehicle is evidence that the stolen cars are involved in other violent crimes."