NEWARK, N.J. (1010 WINS) — Officials in Newark recovered 52 stolen vehicles and arrested 31 people within a week, amid the city's auto theft initiative, authorities said.
Police on Saturday, May 8, arrested a 16-year-old driving an SUV that had been reported stolen along with a 13-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl who were passengers.
The teens were spotted by police on Irvine Tuner Boulevard and ran from the car but were caught after a foot chase, according to authorities.
Officials charged the teen driver with possession of stolen property, obstructing the administration of the law and resisting arrest.
Both passengers are each charged with taking without the owner's consent, obstructing the administration of the law, as well as resisting arrest, authorities said.
On Sunday, May 9, a pedestrian was struck near the corner of Van Ness Place and Clinton Avenue by a 15-year-old driving a stolen vehicle, police said.
The driver hopped out of the car and fled on foot.
He later returned to the scene, where he was arrested and charged with receiving stolen property, officials said.
So far this year, the Newark Department of Public Safety's auto theft initiative has led to 110 arrests and recovered 1,054 stolen vehicles, police said Monday.
