NEWARK, N.J. (WCBS 880) -- Six people have been arrested so far in connection to an alleged auto theft ring that burglarized car dealerships across multiple New Jersey counties, acting New Jersey Attorney General Andrew Bruck announced.
Khiree Smith, 29, of Newark, Brian Peppers, 30, of Newark, Kaiyir Green, 19, of Newark, Alquan Harris, 22, of East Orange, Tyheem Pollard-Raines, 27, of Blackwood and Sharieff Copeland, 25, of East Orange were all charged as part of Operation Dealer No Deal, an investigation by the state’s Police Motor Vehicle Crimes North Unit.
Copeland was the latest to be charged — he was arrested Thursday.
“We’re cracking down on the criminal enterprises that endanger our state’s residents and businesses, and these arrests demonstrate our ongoing commitment to that effort,” said Bruck. “We’re focusing the resources of the New Jersey State Police and the Division of Criminal Justice on our most pressing public safety challenges.”
The six suspects are charged in connection with thefts of 22 vehicles in May and June, coming in at a combined value of $787,000, the AG’s office said.
Fourteen of the vehicles were considered “high-end,” including Mercedes, BMWs, Land Rovers, Audis and Infinitis.
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Dealerships in Irvington, Jersey City, Englewood were hit. A single car was stolen from a Moorestown driveway and only nonworking key fobs were taken from a Hillside dealership. The Irvington dealership also had a safe containing $52,000 in cash taken, police said.
Division of Criminal Justice Director Lyndsay Ruotolo called the group a “prolific criminal enterprise” that went into the dealerships after hours, stealing key fobs and driving off with several cars at a time.
The Division of Criminal Justice’s Specialized Crimes Bureau said it obtained a state grand jury indictment on Nov. 10 charging all members of the apparent ring except for Copeland, with offenses related to the burglaries. They were previously arrested on warrants issued in June and are charged with theft, receiving stolen property and burglary. All except Pollard-Raines are also charged with conspiracy.
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Copeland was arrested on newly filed charges saying that he and Peppers were among those part of the theft of 10 vehicles from an Irvington dealership.
During the investigation, authorities said Peppers allegedly eluded a state trooper in East Brunswick, and Smith is accused of eluding Oceanport police on June 11, driving at high speeds.
Three of those arrested are being held in jail pending trial, one is at a correctional facility pending their first appearance, and two others were released from custody.