An Essex County juvenile was taken into custody after fleeing the scene of a motor vehicle burglary and attempted motor vehicle theft.

On March 18^th, 2022 at approximately 15:36 hours, a resident reported that a suspect attempted to steal their vehicle on the 700 Block of Linden Place in Cranford.  The witness gave a suspect description to police dispatch, detailing that the suspect fled in a Gray Lexus traveling at a high rate of speed on North Union Avenue.  Officer John Colineri located the Lexus and conducted a motor vehicle stop on Springfield Avenue at North Union Avenue in front of police headquarters.  The vehicle was driven by one adult and occupied by another adult and two juveniles.  During the course of this motor vehicle investigation, one juvenile actor was positively identified as the individual who entered a vehicle on Linden Place.  This juvenile male was taken into custody without incident.  The other juvenile was taken into protective custody awaiting a guardian.  The Gray Lexus was found to be unregistered and was impounded at the scene, with motor vehicle summonses issued to the adult driver for having an unregistered vehicle and improper display of license plates.

The juvenile was charged with 3^rd Degree Burglary and turned over to the custody of their guardian pending a Superior Court, Family Part Court Appearance Date.  Chief Greco commended the actions of the witness who immediately called 9-1-1 after gathering vital information about the crime in progress.  “As suggested, the quick activation of a police-response aided in the swift apprehension of the individual responsible for this crime,” he said.