Tag:

Auto Theft

Cop Killers Helped Run Multi-State Car Theft Ring Out Of NJ: AG Cop Killers Helped Run Multi-State Car Theft Ring Out Of NJ: AG
Cop Killers Helped Run Multi-State Car Theft Ring Out Of NJ: AG Thirteen people were arrested and charged with running a car theft ring out of Camden that involved the shooting death of a Philadelphia police officer, authorities announced Friday, Sept. 5. Alex Vargas, a 27-year-old Camden resident and his brother Alexi Vargas, a 24-year-old Pennsauken resident, led a criminal enterprise which coordinated the theft of vehicles throughout New Jersey and his nearby states, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said.  From July 2001 through January 2004, the Vargas brothers and their accomplices stole cars in Camden, Burlington, Somerset, Bergen,…
BMWs, Mercedes: Members Of $1 Mil NJ Stolen Car Ring Learn Fate, Union County Prosecutor Says BMWs, Mercedes: Members Of $1 Mil NJ Stolen Car Ring Learn Fate, Union County Prosecutor Says
BMWs, Mercedes: Members Of $1 Mil NJ Stolen Car Ring Learn Fate, Union County Prosecutor Says Five members, including two juveniles were sentenced for their involvement in an auto theft trafficking network that pilfered luxury vehicles throughout North Jersey, authorities announced Thursday, May 22. Tikeem Shearin, 19, Carlos Espinal, 20 and Sincere Sims, 21, Newark residents, were each sentenced to five years in prison after previously pleading guilty to leader of an auto trafficking ring, Union County Prosecutor William Daniel said. Two juveniles were sentenced to three years in Jamesburg Juvenile Detention Center for their involvement in the ring. A four-month investigation by n…
$22.5M Gold Heist Suspect Caught In PA Smuggling 65 Guns Into Canada: DOJ $22.5M Gold Heist Suspect Caught In PA Smuggling 65 Guns Into Canada: DOJ
$22.5M Gold Heist Suspect Caught In PA Smuggling 65 Guns Into Canada: DOJ A man wanted in one of the biggest gold thefts in Canadian history has admitted in U.S. court to smuggling dozens of guns—including fully automatic machine pistols—back into Canada, federal prosecutors say. Durante King-Mclean, 26, of Cambridge, Ontario, pleaded guilty in Harrisburg on Tuesday, May 14, to conspiracy to traffic firearms after a Pennsylvania traffic stop exposed a shocking weapons pipeline stretching from Florida to the Canadian border. He had 65 handguns crammed into the trunk of a rental car, each one hidden inside a sock, authorities said. Among them were stolen weapons, …
Newark Man Stole $700K Worth Of Luxury Vehicles: AG Newark Man Stole $700K Worth Of Luxury Vehicles: AG
Newark Man Stole $700K Worth Of Luxury Vehicles: AG A 19-year-old Newark man was arrested and charged with running a residential burglary and auto theft ring throughout the state last year, authorities said. Samir White's crew  targeted high-end vehicles throughout New Jersey and New York, Attorney General Matthew Platkin said. White and others used stolen vehicles to travel to target locations throughout Monmouth, Ocean, and Essex counties, where they forced entry into homes using a crowbar, removed expensive items and key fobs to vehicles, then stole the homeowner’s cars from the residence, Platkin said. The estimated value of vehicles…
Six People Arrested After Police Pursuit Ends In Overturned Vehicle: Union PD Six People Arrested After Police Pursuit Ends In Overturned Vehicle: Union PD
Six People Arrested After Police Pursuit Ends In Overturned Vehicle: Union PD Six people, including a 19-year-old Newark resident were arrested and charged after fleeing from police in a stolen vehicle in Township of Union on Tuesday, Dec. 17, authorities said. At 12:55 p.m., officers spotted a 2017 Acura MDX speeding on Route 22 and a license plate check revealed the vehicle was stolen from Belleville, Township of Union police said. Ahzir Williams, a 19-year-old Newark resident and the driver of the stolen car increased his speed and a pursuit began, police said.  The stolen car traveled around various streets in Union, Hillside, Irvington and Newark befor…
Grand Jury Declines To Indict Weehawken Officer Who Shot Paterson Man: Prosecutor Grand Jury Declines To Indict Weehawken Officer Who Shot Paterson Man: Prosecutor
Grand Jury Declines To Indict Weehawken Officer Who Shot Paterson Man: Prosecutor A Hudson County grand jury declined to indict a Weehawken police officer on Tuesday, Oct. 15  for shooting a Paterson man in August 2023, authorities said. Ricky Rivera, 20-year-old Paterson resident was shot by Sgt. Vincent Avoletta after hitting a police officer with a car on the early morning of Tuesday, August 1, authorities said. At 5 a.m. police were patrolling a neighborhood plagued by auto thefts, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said. When police approached a suspicious vehicle parked in a driveway on Regency Place, Rivera fled the scene in the vehicle, striking an offic…
Luxury Union County Car Trafficking Ring Dismantled, Four Arrests Made, Prosecutor Says Luxury Union County Car Trafficking Ring Dismantled, Four Arrests Made, Prosecutor Says
Luxury Union County Car Trafficking Ring Dismantled, Four Arrests Made, Prosecutor Says Four teenagers were arrested on Thursday, Sept. 12 and charged for their participation in an auto theft trafficking network in North Jersey, authorities said. Two juveniles, a 16-year-old Newark resident and a 17-year-old Jersey City resident would use stolen Kias, Hondas and Hyundais to look for high-end luxury vehicles like BMWs and Mercedes, Union County Prosecutor William Daniel said. After identifying target vehicles, they would go to target homes and search for keys/key fobs, Daniel said. Once they got the vehicles, they would contact Tikeem Shearin, 18, and Carlos Espi…
Arrangements Set, Obituary Posted For Fairfield Officer James 'Jimmy' Ciampi Arrangements Set, Obituary Posted For Fairfield Officer James 'Jimmy' Ciampi
Arrangements Set, Obituary Posted For Fairfield Officer James 'Jimmy' Ciampi Arrangements have been finalized for Fairfield Police Officer James "Jimmy" Ciampi, who died Monday, Sept. 9, following a battle with cancer. He would have turned 32 in October. According to his obituary on the Ippolito-Stellato Funeral Home website, visitation will be held Thursday, Sept. 12 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the funeral home in Fairfield. The funeral will be at 8:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 13 at the funeral home, with a Funeral Mass set for 10 a.m., at the St. Thomas More R.C. Church. Ciampi graduated from West Essex High School before earning his bachelor's from Rutgers University…
Award-Winning NJ Police Officer Battles Cancer, Chief Pleads For Prayers Award-Winning NJ Police Officer Battles Cancer, Chief Pleads For Prayers
Award-Winning NJ Police Officer Battles Cancer, Chief Pleads For Prayers A police officer with roots in the New Jersey borough that he serves is battling cancer, and his chief is asking for prayers. James "Jimmy" Ciampi, of the Fairfield Police Department, was described by FPD Chief Anthony Manna as a "young, bright, and dedicated" officer. Ciampi is unable to come to work and remains focused on battling cancer, Manna said. Ciampi began his career with FPD as a Class II Special Officer in October 2016. A year later, he became a full-time officer. In 2022, Ciampi was assigned to the Essex County Auto Theft Task Force for six months "where he excelled at helping…