CAMDEN, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — Police in New Jersey announced the arrest of 13 people involved in a multi-state car theft ring that is tied to the 2023 fatal shooting of a Philadelphia police officer.
The group, based out of Camden, is said to be responsible for at least 41 car thefts in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Delaware. Investigators said it is also linked to the fatal shooting of Officer Richard Mendez.
Mendez was shot and killed in October 2023 during an attempted car break-in at a Philadelphia International Airport parking garage. His partner, Officer Raul Ortiz, was wounded.
Alex Vargas, 27, and his 24-year-old brother, Alexi, are the alleged ringleaders of the car theft ring. Officials said they targeted the thefts of “high-value vehicles” like Jeep Grand Cherokees, Dodge Chargers and Durangos, and Ram trucks.
The cars were all stolen similarly — breaking in through the back window and using a key re-programmer to drive the car back to Camden County. The group would then advertise the vehicles for sale.
New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin said these were well-organized, violent criminals with no regard for human life.
“This case would have been big enough given a 13-defendant RICO, but it’s also a reminder of how these stolen cars are so often connected to other crimes and other tragedies,” he said.
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel thanked all of the police who helped in this investigation.
“When we see this type of response after the loss of our officer, we’re grateful,” he said.
The men accused of killing Mendez — Yobranny Martinez-Fernandez, Alexander Batista-Polanco and Hendrick Peña-Fernández — are scheduled for trial in November.