Secaucus Police Charge Newark Teens Involved in Secaucus Home Invasion

On April 16, 2025 a passerby alerted a Secaucus Police Officer who was conducting a park and walk that a red BMW M3 was abandoned in the roadway near 1262 Paterson Plank Road. The passerby also stated that the occupants fled and got into a white sport utility vehicle. At 11:46 P.M., the Secaucus Police received a 9-1-1 call from an Arn Terrace resident who stated that he just witnessed his neighbor’s vehicles were stolen from their driveway.

When Secaucus Police units responded to the Arn Terrace residence they discovered that three males travelled to Secaucus in a Hyundai Sonata that was determined have been stolen from Irvington prior to coming to Secaucus, but it was not reported stolen to the police yet. Two of the male suspects entered the Arn Terrace residence and took the keys for the BMW M3 and Audi Q7. They then fled in the stolen BMW M3 and Audi Q7.

The BMW M3 that was found abandoned on Paterson Plank Road and the white Audi Q7 was determined to be the vehicle the suspects fled in. Sergeant Taylor Ensmann witnessed the stolen Audi Q7 fleeing the area at speeds in excess of 100 mph. He and Police Officer Jude Masullo pursued the stolen Audi onto the highway and into Newark where they lost sight of the vehicle.

At 3:16 A.M. on April 17, 2025 the Secaucus Police were able to locate the stolen Audi Q7 in Matawan, NJ. When the occupants observed a marked police vehicle the stolen Audi fled and another brief vehicle pursuit was undertaken, but once again sight was lost of the stolen Audi. At approximattely 4:29 A.M. the Audi was located in Newark.

Detectives from the Secaucus Police Department Anti-Crime Unit conducted a several weeks long investigation and were able to identify two 17-year-old males from Newark as two of the individuals involved in this incident.

“This is yet another clear example that our legislators need to update our laws that would hold juveniles accountable for committing such heinous acts, ” Chief Dennis Miller said. “Because no firearm was involved, the juveniles cannot be prosecuted as adults. I commend the investigative work of my police officers and detectives and support their decision to pursue these criminals. However, I am frustrated that these juveniles have and will continue to commit these crimes, which is not fair to the victims they prey on.”

On May 9, 2025 both 17-year-old males from Newark were charged with Residential Burglary [2C:18-2.2], Conspiracy to Commit Residential Burglary [2C:5-2a(1)/2C:18-2.2], two counts of Theft of a Motor Vehicle [2C:20-10.1a], Theft of Moveable Property [2C:20-3a], Receiving a Stolen Motor Vehicle [2C:20-10.2a] and Conspiracy to Receive a Stolen Motor Vehicle [2C:5-2a(1)/2C:20-10.1b]. One 17-year-old male was also charged with Possession of Burglar Tools [2C:5-5a(1)] and Eluding [2C:29-2b].

At the time charges were filed both were already being detained in the Essex County Juvenile Detention Facility on unrelated charges. These charges are merely accusations and the juveniles are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The investigation is still ongoing and more arrests could be made.