Five arrested in Somerset County luxury vehicle theft spree

Four Newark men and a 15-year-old Newark boy are facing charges related to residential and vehicle burglaries in Bernards, Bernardsville and Green Brook in which eight vehicles were stolen, Prosecutor John P. McDonald announced along with the police chiefs from those police departments.

Arrested were Rasudi Creighton, 19, Furquan Ahmad, 20, Jashamir Hardiman, 25, and Nasir Davis, 20 and the teen. A fifth man Damien Coleman, 22, of Newark, has also been charged in connection with the burglaries but remains at large, according to the prosecutor's office.

Creighton was charged on June 19 with motor vehicle theft, a second-degree crime, and the third-degree crimes of burglary, burglary of a motor vehicle, and participant in an auto theft trafficking network. He was served with his complaint-warrant while in custody at the Bergen County Jail on another agency’s charges, the prosecutor's office said.

Ahmad was arrested and charged June 19 with two counts of theft of a motor vehicle and the third-degree crimes of theft of a motor vehicle, burglary and participant in an auto theft trafficking network. He was served the complaint at the Monmouth County Jail while in custody on another agency’s charges, officials said.

Hardiman was charged June 27 with two counts of burglary, two counts of theft of a motor vehicle and two counts of participant in an auto theft trafficking network, all third-degree crimes, and joyriding, a fourth-degree crime. He was served with his complaint-warrant while in custody in the Bergen County Jail on another agency’s charge, the prosecutor's office said.

Davis was arrested and charged June 27 with receiving a stolen motor vehicle and participant in an auto vehicle theft trafficking network, both third-degree crimes. He was served at the Monmouth County Jail while in custody for another agency’s charges, the prosecutor's office said.

The 15-year-old was sent a juvenile delinquency complaint July 11 on the third-degree charges of burglary of a motor vehicle, theft of a motor vehicle and participant in an auto theft trafficking network and will be provided with a future court date, officials said.

McDonald said Coleman has been charged with the third-degree crimes of receiving stolen property and participant in an auto theft trafficking network. Authorities ask anyone with any information about Coleman's location to contact the Bernardsville Police Department or the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office.

According to McDonald around 4:37 a.m. Oct. 5, 2023, suspects gained entry to a Tuxford Terrace home in Bernards Township through a sliding rear window and a 2023 Mercedes Benz GLE AMG was stolen from the home and a 2020 Kia Sol, which had been reported stolen from Newark, was left behind.

Two days later around 4 p.m. Oct. 7, 2023, forced entry was made to a home on Old Ford Road in Bernardsville where keys to two vehicles were stolen along with a 2021 BMW 340i and a 2018 BMW 540i.

Around 3:55 a.m. Nov. 26, 2023, suspects forced their way into a home on Blazure Road in Bernardsville and stole two key fobs. Two vehicles, a 2021 Dodge Charger and a 2024 BMW X6, were then stolen from the residence and a 2021 Kia Sportage, that had been reported stolen from East Orange, was left at the scene.

Just before 5 a.m. Dec. 1, 2023, a home on Deer Path in Green Brook was burglarized and a handbag, wallet, cash and keys were stolen, McDonald said. Green Brook police responded as the burglary was in progress and the suspects fled in a 2020 BMW X4 that had been reported stolen out of Denville, and eluded police.

And around 2:48 a.m. Jan. 2, a home on Johnson Circle, Bernards Township was burglarized and a 2023 Audi RSQ8, 2021 Cadillac Escalade and a 2022 BMW X5M were stolen. A Kia Sol, reported stolen out of East Orange, was left behind at the scene by the suspects, the prosecutor's office said.

A joint investigation by detectives from the Bernards, Bernardsville and Green Brook police departments along with the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Special Investigation Unit led to the identification of the five suspects and the arrests connected to the crime spree. McDonald said detectives from the Hillsborough Police Department and the New Jersey State Police Regional Operations Intelligence Center also contributed to the investigation.

Anyone with information related to the investigation is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office at 908-231-7100, the Bernards Township Police Department at 908-766-1122, the Bernardsville Borough Police Department at 908-766-0037 or the Green Brook Police Department at 732-968-1188 or via the STOPit app. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports, and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

Email: srussell@gannettnj.com

Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Five arrested in Somerset County luxury vehicle theft spree