Man Charged In Westfield Home Burglary, 2 Vehicle Thefts: Police

WESTFIELD, NJ – A 20-year-old man has been charged in connection with a Westfield residential burglary in January that resulted in the theft of two vehicles, authorities said.

Keshawn K. Creech, 20, of Newark, was arrested in Newark on Thursday by the U.S. Marshals Service New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force, Westfield Police Chief Christopher Battiloro said in a statement.

Creech was charged in connection with a Faulkner Drive home burglary on Saturday, January 14, 2023, at around 5:34 a.m., Battiloro said, adding that it’s believed Creech used a garage door remote found inside an unlocked vehicle to open an overhead garage door.

Creech reportedly entered the residence from an unlocked door and stole from the kitchen area key fobs for two vehicles that were parked in the driveway: a gray 2014 BMW 528 and a gray 2020 BMW X7, Battiloro said.

Both vehicles were subsequently driven away, officials said.

Creech was quickly identified and charged by the New Jersey State Police Motor Vehicles Crimes North Unit on January 23, but could not be found, Battiloro said. The Newark man has been charged with burglary, conspiring with another to commit burglary, theft and conspiring with another to commit theft, Battiloro said.

Creech was remanded to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in Freehold on charges currently pending against him in that jurisdiction, Battiloro said.

Three vehicles have been reported stolen out of Westfield in 2023, Battiloro said, including the Faulkner Drive vehicles and a white 2019 Land Rover Range Rover reported stolen on March 7 on the 100 block of Cedar Street. That vehicle was left unlocked with its key fob in it at the time of its theft, Westfield police said.

In 2022, 15 vehicles were reported stolen in Westfield, a 46.4% reduction from the previous year, when 28 vehicles were reported stolen.

“The Westfield Police Department remains fully committed to combating Westfield’s most pressing criminal problem – vehicle theft – and its efforts have made a very significant impact,” Battiloro said in a statement.