Three juveniles were arrested in South Brunswick, New Jersey recently after one of them synced their phone to a stolen car. They are now facing charges for receiving stolen property, among other offenses.
According to officials from the South Brunswick Police Department, the incident began at approximately 5:30 pm on Monday, November 6th. Three juvenile suspects, who remain unidentified due to their underage status, allegedly left the Exxon station located at the intersection of New Road and Route 27 without paying for the gas. They were reportedly in a gold Toyota Camry that was reported stolen on October 31st.
A local police officer observed the car and called in the license plate. After finding out the vehicle was stolen, the officer attempted to conduct a motor vehicle stop. The suspects attempted to elude the officer, leading police on a chase during which they hit multiple cars, including another police car.
After stopping and exiting the car, the juveniles are said to have fled on foot. At this point, members of the South Brunswick, North Brunswick, and Franklin Township police departments, as well as the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department were all in pursuit. Although they initially failed to locate the juveniles, there were several pieces of evidence left behind.
One of the suspects had synchronized their phone to the car’s Bluetooth, which showed their name. Another one of the suspects left a backpack with a hall pass that had their name on it. Shortly thereafter, all three juveniles were taken into custody and charged with receiving stolen property, theft, and eluding a police officer.
Now, these young people are exposed to serious penalties. When charged with receiving stolen property in New Jersey, your offense is in violation of section N.J.S.A. 2C:20-7 of the NJ Criminal Code. Like many other theft crimes, the degree of a charge for receiving stolen property is determined by the value of the property associated with the offense. For example, if the property in question is valued between $500 and $75,000, this is a third degree crime punishable by up to 5 years in prison.
Notably, this case involves juvenile defendants who will be prosecuted in Juvenile Court, as opposed to adult criminal court. This is important because the juvenile justice system has different rules and standards than criminal court for adults. Specifically, the standard in juvenile court is the best interests of the child. The system’s focus is rehabilitation and reform, which provides a host of alternative sentencing opportunities for juveniles who are adjudicated delinquent of criminal offenses in New Jersey.
Facing Charges for Receiving Stolen Property in South Brunswick NJ?
If you are arrested for receiving stolen property or another theft offense in South Brunswick, NJ, contact William Proetta Criminal Law today for a free consultation about your case. Our law practice focuses entirely on criminal defense for juveniles and adults in New Jersey. We appear in courts throughout Middlesex County on a regular basis and are dedicated to providing the best possible defense. Call (732) 659-9600 or contact us online for more information.
For additional information about this case, access the following article with video: South Brunswick: Phone Syncing Leads To Car Thieves Arrest (WITH VIDEO)
