Early Morning Erratic Driver Complaint Leads to Arrest of Juvenile Driving Stolen Vehicle

On August 5^th 2022 at approximately 7:07am, the Riverside Township Police responded to a call for an erratic driver who was driving at a high rate of speed going the wrong way on a one way on the 500 block of Kossuth St. While responding to the area, officers were advised that the vehicle struck parked motor vehicles on the 200 block of Kossuth and left the scene. Upon checking the area, officers spoke to several witnesses who advised that a Silver Nissan SUV was driving at a high rate of speed and was last seen traveling down Taylor St. towards Leach St. Shortly after officers were able to locate the vehicle parked in the rear lot of the old Derby’s bar on Taylor St. The same witness who initially called, observed a male who appeared to be a juvenile walking from the parking lot holding the key fob to a vehicle before placing it in his pocket and fleeing the scene on foot. The registered owner of the vehicle was identified and contacted, where it was discovered that the vehicle was stolen earlier the same morning from the front of a residence on the 700 block of Bem St.

After towing the vehicle to a secured location to be processed for fingerprints, officers received a report of the same male who was now walking in the same area where the vehicle was located and towed from. Officers were able to make contact with the male who provided officers with a false name. After further investigation the male was found to be a 15-year-old juvenile from Trenton. He was also found to be in possession of a Nissan key fob which belonged to the vehicle that was stolen. He was found to be a suspect in at least two other vehicle burglaries in the area.

As a result of the investigation the juvenile was charged and released to a parent with:

-2C:20-3A Theft of a Motor Vehicle-Third Degree

-2C:18-2 Vehicle Burglary (three counts)-Third Degree

-2C:29-3 Hindering-Third Degree

The Riverside Police Department would like to thank the residents and witnesses that assisted with providing officers with information leading to the apprehension of the juvenile.

Due to a string of vehicle burglaries in town, residents are being reminded to keep vehicles and residences secured at all times. If you observe suspicious activity, don’t delay, report it right away. Try to provide our dispatchers with essential information such as clothing descriptions and direction of travel. If you can safely observe stay on the phone with dispatch or leave a call back number. You can also ask to remain anonymous. Anonymous calls are better than not calling, but at times we need more information when we arrive and are unable to get it when the caller was anonymous.

The information you provide is often the difference in making an arrest or having to let a criminal go because we cannot positively identify them.

If you believe you are witnessing criminal activity requiring immediate police response dial 911 immediately.

To send an anonymous tip via text message to the Riverside Police Department, text the keyword RIVERSIDEPD and your tip to 847411.