Men Stripped Stolen Cars Of Parts, Sold Them: Secaucus Police

SECAUCUS, NJ — Secaucus Police accused two men, from Jersey City and Bayonne, of stripping stolen cars of their parts and then fencing, or selling, the stolen parts.

The arrests of Jarol Vasquez-Puig and Freddy Mendoza-Polanco was done by Secaucus Police officers working undercover. The stolen cars had all been dumped in Secaucus, said police.

On Dec. 30, Secaucus Police responded to the 500 block of New County Road for a report of an abandoned vehicle. When officers arrived, they located a 2015 Honda CRV missing its bumper, passenger side door and headlights. The car was reported stolen out of Weehawken on December 28.

Then, on Jan. 1, Secaucus Police responded to the 200 block of Secaucus Road for a report of an abandoned vehicle. Officers located a 2023 Acura TLX missing its bumper, grill and wheels. That car had been stolen in Kenilworth on December 31.

Secaucus Police detectives received information that the bumper and rims/tires from the stolen Acura were being sold. While acting in an undercover capacity, SPD detectives made arrangements with the seller(s) to purchase some of the stolen automobile parts on Myrtle Avenue in Jersey City.

On Jan. 3, undercover Secaucus Police detectives purchased the Acura’s stolen rims/tires from Jarol Vasquez-Puig and Freddy Mendoza-Polanco. The sale took place in front of Vasquez-Puig’s Myrtle Avenue residence in Jersey City. Both men were then placed under arrested by members of the Secaucus Police Department Anti-Crime Unit and Jersey City Police Department’s Intelligence Unit.

During a consensual search of Vasquez-Puig’s home, SPD detectives located numerous automobile parts strewn throughout the backyard and alleyway, said police, including the bumper stolen from the 2023 Acura and the passenger door stolen from the Honda CRV. Also, a license plate from a stolen Honda was also recovered. Additionally, SPD detectives located a ‘Jiajue’ motorcycle in the backyard that was found to have been stolen in Jersey City on December 6.

Both men were charged with: Receiving Stolen Property [2C:20-7a], Fencing [2C:20-7.1b(1)] and Conspriacy to Commit Fencing [2C:5-2/2C:20-7.1b(1)]. Vasquez-Puig was additionally charged with Operation of a Facility for Sale of Stolen Automobile Parts [2C:20-16a] along with a second count of Receiving Stolen Property [2C:20-7a]. Jersey City Police charged Vasquez-Puig with Receiving a Stolen Motor Vehicle [2C:20-10.2]. He was lodged in the Hudson County Jail while Freddy Mendoz-Polanco released, pending a court appearance.

“Secaucus will not be the dumping ground for stolen vehicles any longer,” Chief Dennis Miller said. “My detectives will exhaust every lead to identify criminals who enter into our locale solely to commit nefarious acts. They have my authorization to use whatever resources are necessary to bring those involved to justice. Collaboratively working with and sharing intelligence with other law enforcement agencies, like the Jersey City Police Department in this case, is the only way we can prevail against criminals who have no borders. I am proud of my Detectives’ investigative work and I commend all involved in this case.”