Secaucus Police Find Stolen Cars In Traffic Stops

Secaucus NJ

28 November, 2021

7:31 PM

Description

SECAUCUS, NJ — Two cars stopped in routine traffic stops this November turned out to be stolen, said Secaucus Police. The cars were pulled over by police on Nov. 18 and on Nov. 23, in unrelated incidents. "In response to an increase in motor vehicle thefts statewide, Secaucus police officers will remain vigilant and proactively patrol our town in an attempt to combat this ongoing problem," said Police Chief Dennis Miller. "I commend the police officers involved in these arrests for their diligence and I fully support their commitment to law enforcement, despite working in a climate where some criminals are acting with impunity in our state." At 5:23 p.m. on Nov. 18, Secaucus Police Officer Jesus Rodriguez-Ferreira pulled over a 2007 Hyundai Elantra on Paterson Plank Road for a loud muffler and broken headlight. The car was found to be stolen out of East Rutherford and its driver, Tariq Alqanawi, 37, of Newark was arrested. Then at 10:33 a.m. on Nov. 23, Secaucus Police Officer Justin Machno pulled over a 2007 Chrysler Sebring on County Avenue for improper display of a temporary registration, which was found to be forged. That car was discovered to be stolen out of New York City. Its driver, George Valerio, 40, of Ozone Park, NY was arrested. He was also found in possession of electronics, blank checks, etc. that were stolen from victims in Atlantic City, said police. Alqanawi was charged with Receiving Stolen Property [2C:20-7]. Valerio was charged with two counts of Receiving Stolen Property [2C:20-7], Hindering his own Apprehension [2C:29-3b(4)] and Forgery [2C:21-1]. Valerio was also found to have an active warrant from Atlantic County for a "weapons offense" with no bail and an active warrant from Paramus for Theft of Moveable Property [2C:20-3a] with $1,000.00 bail. Both men were lodged in the Hudson County Jail. Subscribe to Patch for local Secaucus news: https://patch.com/subscribe Contact this Patch reporter: [email protected]