5 Indicted In Burglary/Car Theft Ring That Targeted Monmouth County: AG

MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ — Attorney General Matthew Platkin and the Division of Criminal Justice announced charges on Friday against a Newark man and four co-defendants in connection with a car theft ring that targeted multiple towns in Monmouth County.

Samir White, 19, of Newark, was charged by indictment with multiple crimes, including conspiracy, auto theft, home invasion burglary, and weapons offenses, Platkin said.

White’s co-defendants – Quamine McDonald, Samir Jordan, Tysir Philips and Tauheed McLean – were also charged by indictment in connection with their alleged roles in the auto theft ring, authorities said.

“Breaking into homes, as is alleged in this indictment, adds a new level of danger to the crime of car theft,” Platkin said. “The charges we are announcing today also include weapons offenses. Protecting the public is our highest priority, and cases like this one go a long way toward making our residents safer in their homes.”

From September 2024 through Feb. 10, 2025, the NJ State Police Motor Vehicle Crimes North Unit investigated members of an auto theft and home burglary crew that allegedly targeted high-end vehicles throughout New Jersey and New York.

White and others are accused of using stolen vehicles to travel to target locations throughout Monmouth, Ocean, and Essex Counties, where authorities accuse them of forcing entry into homes using a crowbar, removing expensive items and key fobs to vehicles, then stealing the homeowner’s vehicles from the residence.

The estimated value of vehicles stolen is approximately $700,000, Platkin said.

“The indictment of these individuals sends a clear message: we will not tolerate those who threaten the safety of our communities through violence, theft, and the complete disregard for the law,” said Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, Superintendent of the NJ State Police.

“Breaking into people’s homes to steal vehicles is not just a property crime—it’s a violation of the very sense of security every resident deserves,” Callahan continued. “I commend our detectives and law enforcement partners for their tireless efforts in holding these offenders accountable and ensuring the safety of the people of New Jersey.”

The vehicles and residences in Monmouth County include:

• Sept. 24, 2024: White and others are accused of stealing a 2024 Land Rover valued at over $75,000 from Wall Township, Monmouth County;
• Dec. 9, 2024: White and others are accused of stealing a 2024 BMW X3, valued at less than $75,000, from a residence on Boston Boulevard, Sea Girt, Monmouth County;
• Dec. 11, 2024: White and others are accused of entering a residence on River Road, Wall Township, Monmouth County, stealing $10,000 worth of jewelry, a loaded firearm (Sig Saur P365XL), purses, a key fob, and a 2020 Porsche 911, valued in excess of $75,000;
• Dec. 18, 2024: White and others are accused of stealing a 2024 BMW 769 from New York Boulevard in Sea Girt, Monmouth County;
• Dec. 22, 2024: White and others are accused of using a stolen vehicle to travel to Sea Girt in Monmouth County and entering residences on Crescent Parkway and Washington Boulevard to obtain key fobs to steal vehicles. A 2025 Range Rover, valued in excess of $75,000, and designer clothes and sunglasses were stolen from Crescent Parkway; and a 2020 BMW X3, valued at less than $75,000, was stolen from Washington Boulevard. White and others are also accused of using the 2020 BMW X3 later that day to travel to Midland Avenue in East Orange, where one individual entered the residence, took the keys to a 2024 Audi RSQ8, valued in excess of $75,000, and departed with the Audi and the other stolen cars;
• Jan. 8, 2025: White and others are accused of stealing a 2023 Range Rover from in front of a school when a mother left the vehicle to pick up her child in Holmdel, Monmouth County;

White was allegedly linked to these incidents through a combination of electronic and physical surveillance, common clothing and cellular data, authorities said.

Platkin thanked the Monmouth County and Essex County Prosecutors’ Offices; the Wall Township, Sea Girt Borough, and Bay Head Borough Police Departments, and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department for their work on the investigation.

“The indictment we are announcing today charges the defendants with auto theft as well as home invasion burglary,” DCJ Director Theresa L. Hilton said. “They also are alleged to have stolen weapons, jewelry, and other items. Shutting down criminal networks like this takes excellent work by everyone in law enforcement.”

Deputy Attorney General Jaclyn Dowd is prosecuting the case for DCJ, under the supervision of Deputy Chief Matthew Bernal and Chief Cassandra Montalto.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are accusations, authorities said, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

To learn more, you can visit the NJ Attorney General website.

Previous Coverage

• Man Charged In Burglary Ring That Targeted Monmouth County