TRENTON — A Newark man has been arrested and charged in a series of car thefts and home invasions, one of which occurred in Bay Head, the Attorney General’s Office announced this week.
The suspect is the first person charged under a new state law that enhances the penalties for home invasions and residential burglaries, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) announced on Jan. 29.
Samir White, 19, of Newark, has been charged with home invasion burglary, first degree; four counts of residential burglary, second degree; theft of motor vehicles, second degree; receiving a stolen vehicle, second degree; conspiracy to receive a stolen vehicle, second degree; and resisting arrest by flight, fourth degree.
From Nov. 18, 2024, through Jan. 16 of this year, the New Jersey State Police – Motor Vehicle Crimes North Unit investigated members of an auto theft and home burglary ring, including White, that targeted high-end vehicles throughout the states of New Jersey and New York.
White and others allegedly used stolen vehicles to travel to target locations throughout Monmouth, Ocean and Essex counties, where they forced entry into homes using a crowbar, removed expensive items and key fobs to vehicles, then stole the homeowner’s vehicle from the residence. The estimated value of vehicles stolen is approximately $700,000, according to the Attorney General’s office.
The vehicles and residences, according to the Attorney General’s office, include:
- On Nov. 18, 2024, White and others allegedly stole a 2023 BMW X7 valued at less than $75,000, from Lakewood.
- On Dec. 9, 2024, White and others allegedly stole a BMW X3 valued at less than $75,000, stolen from a residence on Boston Boulevard in Sea Girt.
- On Dec. 11, 2024, White and others allegedly entered a residence on River Road in Wall Township, where they stole $10,000 worth of jewelry, a loaded firearm (Sig Sauer P365XL), purses, a key fob and a 2020 Porsche 911, valued at more than $75,000.
- On Dec. 13, 2024, White and others allegedly used the BMW-X3 stolen on Dec. 9, 2024, in Sea Girt to travel to Bay Head to steal a 2020 Mercedes Benz G-Wagon, valued at more than $75,000. This vehicle was recovered in the Bronx, New York City.
- On Dec. 22, 2024, White and others allegedly used various stolen vehicles to travel to Sea Girt, where they entered residences on Crescent Parkway and Washington Boulevard to obtain key fobs to steal vehicles. A 2025 Range Rover, valued at more than $75,000; and designer clothes and sunglasses were stolen from Crescent Parkway; and a 2020 BMW X3, valued at less than $75,000, was stolen from Washington Boulevard.
- On Dec. 22, 2024, White and others forced entry into a home on Midland Avenue in East Orange and removed a key fob and the keys to a 2024 Audi RSQ8.
- On Jan. 16, members of the New Jersey State Police Motor Vehicle Crimes North Unit observed a 2024 BMW X7 that had been reported stolen out of Freehold Borough. The vehicle contained four occupants and was being driven through Tinton Falls. The vehicle was driven to Newark, where the occupants, including White, jumped out and began to run. White was located hiding in a backyard and was arrested. DCJ’s motion to detain White pending trial was granted by the Honorable Jill O’Malley on Jan. 29. The investigation into the remaining co-conspirators is ongoing and no further information is being released at this time.
White is the first person being prosecuted by DCJ for home invasion burglary, a new classification of burglary established in Oct. 2024. According to records on the Criminal Justice Data Dashboard maintained by the Office of Justice Data, law enforcement agencies across New Jersey had charged 17 individuals with home invasion burglary as of the end of Dec. 2024.
This is an excerpt of the print article. For more on this story, read The Ocean Star—on newsstands Friday or online in our e-Edition.
This is an excerpt of the print article. For more on this story, read The Coast Star—on newsstands Thursday or online in our e-Edition.