The Secaucus Police Department arrested an East Orange man for a February home invasion yesterday, where a handgun, ammunition, and $3,284 cash were discovered in his residence.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
On February 5th at 2:51 a.m., an alert Grace Avenue resident called 911 and stated there was a burglary in progress to his neighbor’s residence, located on the 200 block of Grace Avenue, Police Chief Dennis Miller said in a statement.
The resident further reported that the burglars entered a BMW X3 and were fleeing the scene.
The resident was home sleeping at the time of the burglary and also called 911 when she heard someone within her home. When the burglar became aware the resident awoke, he fled to the awaiting BMW X3, which was occupied by his co-conspirators.
Secaucus Patrol Units responding to the 911 calls observed the BMW X3 fleeing onto Paterson Plank Road, while traveling at a high rate of speed headed toward Route 3 East.
Secaucus police pursued the BMW X3 onto the New Jersey Turnpike until they lost sight of it shortly thereafter. Later that morning, these burglars committed another home invasion in Union while utilizing the BMW X3.
Detectives from the Secaucus Police Anti-Crime Unit responded to the scene and conducted their crime scene investigation.
During the investigation, it became known that Khalif Willard also attempted to enter a second residence on the 200 block of Grace Avenue on February 5th. It is believed that the motive for the burglaries was to steal the residents’ vehicles.
During the three month long investigation, detectives from the Secaucus Police Anti-Crime Unit, under the supervision of Det. Sgt. Matthew Ford, travelled to New York City and various other municipalities in New Jersey where they gathered vital evidence.
Secaucus Police Detectives worked collaboratively with the Union Township, Livingston, Woodbridge, Essex Fells and East Orange Police Departments, NYPD and the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office during the investigation.
Then yesterday, detectives from the Secaucus Police Anti-Crime Unit arrested Khalif Willard, 21, of East Orange, and charged him the the Grace Avenue burglary and attempted burglary.
During a court authorized search of his residence additional evidence linking him to the burglaries was found. Additionally, a 9mm “Ghost” handgun, a 17-round “large capacity” magazine, $3,284 in cash, 9mm, 40 caliber and .223 caliber rounds of ammunition, along with several ounces of suspected marijuana were seized.
“I want to commend the boldness of the alert neighbor for getting involved and reporting his suspicions to the police I also want to commend the investigative talent of Detective Jason Mitchell and the other members of the Secaucus Police Anti-Crime Unit,” Miller added.
“I want to thank all of the other agencies who assisted our detectives for their collaborative efforts. This case is representative that the members of the Secaucus Police Department will not rest until they bring criminals to justice who victimize our residents.”
Willard is charged with residential burglary, criminal attempt to commit residential burglary, conspiracy to commit residential burglary and theft of a motor vehicle, unlawful possession of firearm without a serial number, possession of a large capacity magazine, purchasing firearm parts to manufacture a firearm without a serial number, possession of a firearm while committing a drug offense, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and money laundering.
He was detained in the Essex County Jail on these and similar charges from various other municipalities, authorities said.