Teen accused of stealing state police SUV, using it in crimes

New Jersey State Police say a 16-year-old boy stole an unmarked police SUV from a trooper’s home last weekend and used it in two robberies and the theft of gas from a service station.

The white, unmarked Chevrolet Tahoe was stolen sometime Saturday evening or early Sunday morning in the North Brunswick area.

The teen was arrested Wednesday on numerous counts including burglary, unlawful possession of a weapon, robbery, impersonating a law enforcement officer, and theft by unlawful taking.

The boy, whose name wasn’t released due to his age, was lodged at the Middlesex County Juvenile Detention Center in lieu of bail.

Authorities announced the arrest Thursday. They say forensic analysis of evidence recovered during the investigation led them to the teen.

They say two issued weapons that were inside the SUV when it was stolen on Sunday were recovered near Dogwood Court in New Brunswick.

Authorities say the teen stopped a truck driver near Interchange 10 on the New Jersey Turnpike Sunday morning and tried unsuccessfully to make the driver pay a fine for speeding.

He later stopped two other vehicles, including a cab at the Woodbridge Center Mall in Woodbridge and a truck on the New Jersey Turnpike in South Brunswick, and stole money from those drivers.

The teen also allegedly fueled the SUV at a gas station in Colonia and left without paying.

No weapons were brandished during the incidents. The vehicle was then recovered late Sunday morning in North Brunswick.

The trooper discovered the vehicle missing from his driveway shortly before 9:40 a.m. Sunday.

“Anyone concerned or suspicious about the validity of an officer’s identification should call 9-1-1 to report this information and seek confirmation of the officers credentials,” police said in release last weekend.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.