Clarkstown Police Foil Would-Be Car Thieves In Swapped Key Fob Case

NANUET, NY — Clarkstown police chased down three men Monday on foot and by car after an incident involving a swapped key fob that officials said led to an attempted car theft at a Rockland dealership.

The three Bronx residents now face charges including grand larceny.

Clarkstown police were called at 2:2o p.m. by the Rockland Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealership on Rt. 304 in Nanuet over a suspected key-fob swap.

The officers were told by an employee that two men had entered the dealership earlier that day saying they wanted to purchase a used Jeep Grand Cherokee. The salesman provided a key fob to the men so that they could inspect the vehicle. The employee believed the suspects switched the dealership's fob with another and returned the fraudulent fob to the salesman.

The substitution was noticed after the men had left.

Aware of similar complaints from several dealerships, Clarkstown police assumed the suspects would return that evening to steal the vehicle, and formed a detail consisting of detectives, CPD Street Crime Unit and midnight patrol.

Police said they saw the suspects' vehicle return to the dealership at about 11:35 p.m.

Two men were observed entering the Grand Cherokee on the dealership lot. As an officer approached them and boxed the vehicle in, the two left the Jeep and ran, police said.

One was located only after two officers entered the swampy area in the cloverleaf interchange of the Palisades Interstate Parkway and the New York State Thruway. The two officers were assisted by the CPD Drone Unit and NY State Police in locating and rescuing the suspect. The man, when apprehended, appeared to be in distress caused by the frigid temperature of the swampy water, police said. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

He was identified as Mankamang Ceesay, 20.

The other runner caught by officers was identified as Joel Belen, 19.

As the foot pursuits were occurring, the suspects' vehicle also fled; however, the driver crashed in the area of Old Mill Road and Snake Hill Road, police said. He then ran away and was apprehended after a brief chase.

He was identified as Isaac Boateng, 21.

Belen was placed under arrest and charged with Grand Larceny 3 (felony), Grand Larceny Auto (felony), Obstruct Governmental Administration (misdemeanor) and Conspiracy (misdemeanor). Mr. Belen was arraigned in the Town of Clarkstown Justice Court where bail was set at $10,000. He was sent to the Rockland County Jail.

Ceesay was charged with Grand Larceny 3 (felony), Grand Larceny Auto (felony), Obstruct Governmental Administration (misdemeanor) and False Impersonation (misdemeanor). He was arraigned in the Town of Clarkstown Justice Court and released on his own recognizance.

Boateng was placed under and charged with 2 counts of Grand Larceny 3 (felony), Resisting Arrest (misdemeanor), Conspiracy 5 (misdemeanor) and several NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law infractions. Mr. Boateng was arraigned in the Town of Clarkstown Justice Court and sent to the Rockland County Jail on a warrant.

It should be noted that a criminal complaint is merely an accusation and that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty, police said.