SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ – Four car thieves were nabbed after they stopped at a local Wawa to grab some food and drink, South Brunswick police said.
The incident unfolded around 3:20 am Saturday morning, when South Brunswick Police got a call of a motor vehicle crash at 605 Ridge Road.
Officers arrived and found a 2021 Mazda crashed and abandoned on the front lawn. Officers determined the car was registered to a home a few blocks away on Welcome Farms Road.
When police arrived at the home, the resident came to the front door and realized both the cars were stolen from his driveway, police said.
While the resident was speaking with the officer, he used an app to track his second stolen car, a 2023 Hyundai. The app showed the car in the parking lot of the Wawa at 885 Route 535, police said. The officer then notified other officers of the car’s location.
Within minutes Sgt. Ken Herman and Officer Garrett Byrne arrived at the Wawa. The officers found the Hyundai in the parking lot and saw four males walking away from them, with two of the four males were wearing face masks.
The four men were walking towards a closed strip mall and said they were waiting for an Uber, police said.
They were holding food and drinks from Wawa.
Monroe Police Officer Zack Wilson arrived and the men were questioned further. Sgt. Herman went into the Wawa and reviewed the surveillance footage which showed the men arriving in the stolen car, entering the Wawa and making purchases with a credit card, police said.
All four men were arrested and a search found a credit card belonging to the Welcome Farms resident in their pocket. They had used the stolen credit card to buy the Wawa food and drinks, police said.
A third vehicle that was stolen out of Hillsborough earlier was also located in the Wawa parking lot, authorities said.
The four suspects were taken to South Brunswick Police Headquarters and were identified:
- Kyle Depaul, 34, of Trenton
- Ronia Jackson, 18, of Trenton
- A 16-year-old from Trenton
- A 17-year-old of from Trenton
All were charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle, theft, burglary, and possession of a stolen credit card.
The two adults were charged with using juveniles in the commission of a crime, police said.
The two adults were lodged in the Middlesex County Detention Center, while the juveniles were turned over to guardians.
“In one hour, three cars were stolen, a car was totaled and a homeowner’s property was destroyed,” Chief Raymond Hayducka said. “I am thankful for the quick response and coordination by all the officers to stop to this night of crime.”
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