Man Charged With Car Theft From Secaucus Home

SECAUCUS, NJ — This man was arrested Thursday after police say he stole an Audi from a Secaucus driveway last June.

Secaucus Police detectives had previously issued a warrant for the arrest of Rakim Thompson, 29, of Newark; he was arrested Thursday by members of the Essex County Sheriff’s Office.

He is charged with Theft of a Motor Vehicle [2C:20-10.1)], Eluding [2C:29-2b] and Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer [2C:12-1b(5)(a)] and is currently being held at the Hudson County Jail.

The theft happened on June 5, 2024: At 1 a.m. on that date, a resident called Secaucus Police and reported their 2022 Audi Q3 was in the process of being stolen from the driveway of their Valley Court home.

Police Officer Dwight Wise located the stolen vehicle on the Maple Street ramp and followed it toward the dead end of Maple Street. Despite the marked police vehicles blocking the roadway, police say Thompson purposely rammed several of the police cars, one of which was occupied, to escape and evade capture.

Thompson then fled in the stolen Audi where Secaucus Police Officer Salvatore Manente, Jr. pursued him onto the New Jersey Turnpike. After reaching excessively high speeds, Manente lost sight of the stolen Audi in the area of Rt. 80 west, and the vehicle pursuit was terminated.

“I fully support my officers’ actions here during their attempt to arrest this car thief and the decision to pursue him in the stolen vehicle, which was in accordance with existing policies and directives,” Chief Dennis Miller said. “Because the criminal element works tirelessly to prey on our residents, my detectives will work twice as hard to bring them to justice, and this arrest is evidence of just that. I commend my officers and detectives and thank the Essex County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance."