Two juveniles were arrested yesterday for stealing a Jersey City man’s car after he parked in Bayonne, with one teenager also charged with stealing a cell phone, police said.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
The two teens, 17, of Bayonne, and 16, of Newark, were each charged with burglary, motor vehicle theft, conspiracy, and contempt, according to Police Capt. Eric Amato.
The older juvenile also faced a second contempt charge and a theft charge for stealing a cell phone in an unrelated incident.
They were both taken into custody at approximately 5:23 p.m. from the area of 34th Street and Broadway. On Tuesday, April 18th, a 34 year-old Jersey City man arrived at the police desk to report that his 2016 Dodge Charger had been stolen.
According to the victim, he parked his vehicle at 46th Street and Broadway the day prior around 9 p.m. and when he returned the next day around 5:30 a.m., it was gone.
An investigation was initiated by the Bayonne Police Detective Bureau which resulted in the two juveniles being identified as the ones who committed the theft.
Yesterday, the two juveniles were observed by an officer walking west on 34th Street where they were detained by officers and ultimately taken into custody for the crime.
During the arrest process, the older juvenile was also found to be wanted on two outstanding warrants, one out of Hudson County Superior Court and one out of the Holland Township Municipal Court.
Additionally, the younger juvenile was also found to be wanted on an outstanding warrant issued out of the Essex County Sheriff’s Department.
While the 17-year-old was being processed, a teenage victim approached the police desk to report a theft of his cell phone.
According to the victim, while walking on 48th Street and Avenue E on Thursday, April 20th, he was approached by another teen, later identified as the Bayonne teenager who was in custody, who asked to use his cell phone.
When he allowed him to use the phone, the teenager ran away. Then yesterday, the victim observed an Instagram video showing the two juveniles being taken into custody by police.
He immediately recognized the first teenager as the one who stole his phone.
An investigation into the reported theft resulted in the Bayonne native being positively identified as the person who committed the theft and he therefore faced an additional charge, authorities said.
