Wednesday, March 24, 2004

Clifton police arrested two Union City men and one man from Jersey City and charged them with stealing high-priced xenon headlights from cars, Clifton Police Detective Capt. Robert Rowan said yesterday.

Roberto Brito, 21, of Palisade Avenue, and Alejandro Mederos, 19, of Summit Avenue, both of Union City, as well as Armando Ruize, 18, of Princeton Street in Jersey City, Jonathan Gonzalez, of Clifton, and a 16-year-old boy, were arrested Sunday, Rowan said.

All were charged with theft, conspiracy to commit theft, possession of burglary tools and possession of stolen property, Rowan said, adding that they remain under investigation for possible additional crimes.

Police said the crew was spotted at 4:38 a.m. trying to steal a set of headlights in Clifton, and they jumped in their car and fled while a resident called police and gave a description of the getaway car, Rowan said.

When police stopped the car they found tools and gloves inside, and later went to the home of the Clifton man and found several sets of the headlights, which cost about $1,000 new and $100 on the street, Rowan said.

Rowan said investigators believe the Clifton man, a student at Clifton High School, looked for cars with xenon headlights as he walked home from school, and returned at night with his accomplices to steal them.

All those arrested posted $25,000 bails and have been released, Rowan said.


Copyright 2004 The Jersey Journal. Used with permission.

 

That's a good start. I hope they catch more of them lowlifes and lock them up.

 

Names and *almost* full addresses of these guys. I hope someone goes for financial restitution.

 

Man that's good to hear. 5 less HID thieves.

 

Thank God i don't have a 2k2-2k3 i live in that town......

 

scumbags.......

 

Good to hear they've finally caught a few! Too bad these scumbags are already back out on the streets. I'd love to see them do some real jail time, but the said fact is if they get anything more than probation and a little community service I'll be shocked.

 

They will probably steal more headlights to make up for the bail $$$

 

Indeed. How do you come with a total of 125000 in bail money... Goes to show you how much of a business there is.

 

good to hear we're finally taking a bite out of crime... lock those summovab*tches up

 

I don't know how long they've been stealing but I bet they made a killing. Bail $$$ need to be higher IMO.

 

5 down, and ummm...damn ran out of fingers...

It's a start none the less!

 

Was 5 down. They are back on the roads.

 

You only need to post 10% of the total bail, which actually goes to a Bail Bonds agency that guarantees the rest. I think the agency actually gets to keep the 10% no matter what happens. This also makes the Bail Bonds agency responsible for jumpers, hence "Bounty Hunters".

You also need to submit collateral to the agency equal to the entire bond. If someone jumps bail, the agency has to pay the full bail (i.e. the Bond) to the court and they get to keep the 10% and can liquidate the collateral, then send some big hairy dude after the jumper.

So that means these guys only had to shell out $2500.00 then put up the rest in collateral.

 

hehe....fockin' maggets.....

 

Wow, $100 for HIDs? I wanted to upgrade my headlight. Do these guys have a website?

 

Surely you joke. Would you seriuosly consider buying stolen HIDs from them?

 

It beats buying from a dealer for $1500!! Its kinda like re-buying your HID's for 100 bucks...

 

A small step in the right direction

 

maximapolak, you probably know these kids...they must be in high school with you . . . .

you know 'em ??? but then again, clifton has like 1000 students in one class...

well, a lot of clifton guys might be getting some sleep now instead of looking out the window all night. . .

Sam

 

lucky me i live in holmdel, nice suberb area, but i still worry about my lights when i go up north, i just pray that mine dont get stolen, given that new jersey has the highest stolen HIDs

 

good news for everyone here with HID. bail should be much higher though

 

this is a good post, i'm kind of shocked to find those are kids stealing HID lights, not some 30 something or even late twenties like myself. But geez, don't they have something better to do.

 

Yes......One of the theives was from my school and exceptionally interested in my car. I sometimes bring it to the auto shop in school and everyone seems to be most interested in the lights. EASY money for them i guess. I part in the school parking lot where there are 3 cameras pointed toward the cars. I hope to keep my lights while in school.

 

and is this what i have to look forward to when i get my 2k2 max in 2 weeks? i hope i do not have any probs with my car....


but i am glad they caught those darn kids... ticks me off.

-Chris