A 13-year-old from Jersey City is facing 14 charges over multiple car thefts in Bayonne spanning between February 16th and March 4th, police said.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
The juvenile, 13, of Jersey City, was charged with six counts of motor vehicle theft, five counts of attempted motor vehicle theft, 13 counts of burglary, 13 count of criminal mischief, two counts of receiving stolen property, one count of resisting arrest, and one count of eluding, according to Police Capt. Eric Amato.
During the aforementioned time frame, numerous Kia and Hyundai motor vehicles have been stolen or attempted to be stolen in Bayonne.
“Through a lengthy and detailed investigation into all reported incidents, it was determined that the actor would break out a side window, enter the vehicle, access the ignition module by removing/attempting to remove the steering column covering, and steal the car or attempt to do so,” Amato said.
Several vehicles have been recovered in Bayonne and other jurisdictions and have been returned to the respective owners.
In all 15 instances of motor vehicle thefts and/or burglaries, authorities determined that the steering columns had been tampered with after the teenager broke in through a side window.
In the final instance, on March 4th, at approximately 8:31 p.m., a 13 year-old male juvenile of Jersey City was taken into custody from the area of West 51st Street.
On that date, officers responded to the area of Islandview Court on a report of a motor vehicle theft.
Officers met with the victim who stated that after she heard a loud noise coming from outside, she peered out her apartment window and observed her 2015 Hyundai being driven away.
Officers were able to observe broken window glass on the street where the vehicle was parked before being stolen and broadcast a description of the vehicle to all available units.
While on scene investigating, the officers came across a parked and unoccupied 2013 Hyundai in the area with the engine running.
This vehicle matched the description of a vehicle stolen from the area of West 8th Street just prior to the current incident they were actively investigating.
A short time later, officers in the area of West 48th Street observed the stolen vehicle from Islandview Court traveling at a high rate of speed.
Officers attempted to conduct a motor vehicle stop of the vehicle but the driver refused to comply and initiated a pursuit northbound on Avenue B.
The pursuit quickly ended when the suspect driver turned the vehicle onto the dead-end street of West 51st Street, exited the vehicle, and fled on foot through an apartment complex courtyard.
After a brief foot chase, the driver, later identified as juvenile 1, was taken into custody from a backyard on West 51st Street.
While the suspect was at headquarters being processing, detectives investigating 14 other reported vehicle thefts and/or vehicle burglaries were able to positively identify him as the burglar in each incident, Amato added.
