BY TOM CLANCEY
OF NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
Haworth, New Jersey — A teenager who led police on an early-morning car chase from Haworth, onto the golf course of White Beeches Country Club, then into Dumont before being arrested—even singing the “bad boys, bad boys” theme song to the TV show “COPS” while being taken into custody—appears to be connected to the recent spate of car burglaries and thefts, a borough police officer said.
“We have reason to believe through the course of investigation subsequent to the apprehension that there are other accomplices,” Haworth Detective Sgt. Justin Fox told Northern Valley Press. “There’s obviously organized crews that are out there and this is one of the crews.”
The 3 a.m. pursuit on March 31 and arrest came as police have pleaded with residents to lock cars following a series of crimes targeting local neighborhoods.
“The Northern Valley obviously is getting a rash of vehicle thefts and also auto burglaries, where they are taking items from the vehicles,” said Fox. “It’s been happening for the last month or so.”
With authorities on high alert, that night Sgt. Gianluca Ragone attempted to stop what turned out to be a stolen car being operated erratically—only to have it take off, with an ensuing early morning pursuit reaching speeds of 80 mph on borough roads.
Shown in a dash-board camera video from the police cruiser, just as Ragone appears to have boxed-in the driver at the dead end of Haworth Drive, the suspect goes off road. Soon, the car is being chased down the golf cart paths of White Beeches before exiting back onto a Dumont roadway.
With officers from neighboring municipal police departments converging, Ragone’s cruiser video shows the suspect bail on foot, with Ragone in hot pursuit. After a chase, police arrested the 16-year-old teenage boy from Newark, only for him to sing the popular “COPS” theme song while being secured in custody.
“Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?”
In the suspect’s car, officers found burglar tools, gloves and ski masks, along with cash, stolen debit cards, and other miscellaneous items from the vehicles located in Harrington Park and Closter. The juvenile is charged with eluding, resisting arrest by flight, receiving stolen property, possession of credit cards without the owner’s consent and possession of burglar tools. The teen also faces charges in Closter and Harrington Park. He received 10 motor vehicle summonses.
Take precautions, police urge
While municipal police departments have routinely reported news of stolen cars and cars being broken into—while urging residents to lock their cars and take other precautions—the case that has perhaps revealed the most about this trend came from the state attorney general’s office in August 2017.
At that time, the state AG secured indictments against four defendants alleging they had conspired to steal numerous luxury cars in eight state municipalities, including Closter.
Then-Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino said the case revealed what was “big business for these defendants,” saying they “allegedly scoured wealthy residential areas for the luxury cars they prized, typically stealing them right from their owners’ driveways.”
Porrino said defendants allegedly would “cool off” vehicles, parking them in quiet spots, until some time passed and the cars could be loaded onto shipping containers to be placed on cargo vessels or sold domestically.
Modern luxury cars, which use key fobs, often have a tell-tale sign for thieves: if unlocked, the vehicle’s side mirrors stay in position; when locked, they fold in. Police have told Northern Valley Press this simple indicator is a giveaway for would-be thieves.
“Rarely do we see a forced entry. Most of the time they will check, pull on door handles, and if it’s unlocked, they’ll go in. If the key fob is there, they’ll steal the vehicle,” Detective Sgt. Fox said last week. “They’re going to find an opening for opportunity if the car is unlocked.”
Between July and October 2017, Northern Valley Press reported 11 incidents of car thefts and car burglaries in Closter, Cresskill, Demarest, Haworth, Norwood and Tenafly. In late November 2017, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office issued a public alert and said there had been 30 such incidents in a 30-day period county-wide.
After a quiet winter, news of car thefts recently reemerged in Northern Valley communities. In Demarest, police there said four vehicles were stolen on March 10. Three cars were stolen in Harrington Park on March 18, police said. In Closter, a Maserati and a Porsche were stolen in the east section of the borough on March 19.
“We encourage all residents to lock their vehicles and remove any valuables when the vehicles are left unattended, and especially during the overnight hours,” Harrington Park Police Chief Albert Maalouf said at the time. “We caution residents to be aware of their surroundings, and to report any activity which they deem suspicious.”
Police offered these tips to help protect your car from theft:
• Don’t leave your car unlocked;
• Never leave your car running while unattended or unlocked;
• Do not leave a spare key fob near your vehicle;
• Do not leave your key fob in your vehicle;
• Never leave your windows open;
• Install an audible alarm system and a visible anti-theft device;
• Consider installing a GPS tracking system in your vehicle;
• Don’t leave valuable personal property in your car;
• Install a camera system in your driveway that records.
• Always report suspicious activity. If you see something say something.
