4 Arrested in Mahwah Dealership Burglary: Former Employee Allegedly Provided Safe Intel

Inside Job: Former Employee and 3 Accomplices Charged in Mahwah Car Dealership Heist

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Mahwah NJ, A high-stakes plot to crack a safe at a prominent Route 17 car dealership has been foiled, and police say the call was coming from inside the house.

On Wednesday, January 14, 2026, Mahwah Police announced that four men have been charged in connection with a daring September burglary at Mahwah Buick GMC. The twist? One of the suspects was an employee of the dealership at the time of the crime.

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The Midnight Break-In: Power Tools and Fire Alarms

The attempted heist unfolded on the night of September 8, when a fire alarm at the dealership triggered an emergency response. When Mahwah police and firefighters arrived at the Route 17 North location, they didn’t find a fire—instead, they found a crime scene.

According to Mahwah Police Capt. Michael Blondin, officers discovered:

• A forced-entry office door.

• Evidence that suspects had used heavy-duty power tools in an attempt to cut directly into the dealership’s safe.

• The suspects fled the scene before officers arrived, but the failed safe-cracking attempt left behind a trail of digital and physical evidence.

The “Inside Man” Revealed

Following an intensive investigation, detectives identified Ehab Hassan, 29, of Clifton, as the “inside man.” Hassan was an employee of Mahwah Buick GMC at the time and allegedly provided his accomplices with the layout and information necessary to bypass security and target the safe.

The Crew:

• Bledar Lece (47) & Shkelzen Murati (42): The Clifton duo accused of breaking into the building and operating the power tools.

• Fermin Bautista-Rocha (49): The Paterson man accused of acting as the getaway driver.

• Ehab Hassan (29): The now-former employee who allegedly orchestrated the intelligence for the break-in.

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Charges and Legal Status

All four suspects face serious felony charges, including:

1. Burglary

2. Theft

3. Criminal Mischief

According to Bergen County jail records, Bautista-Rocha remains in custody pending court proceedings. The other three defendants—Lece, Murati, and Hassan—have been released pending their next appearances in Bergen County Superior Court.

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Protecting Your Business from Internal Threats

The Mahwah Buick GMC case serves as a stark reminder for North Jersey business owners on the importance of internal security protocols.

• Audit Access: Regularly change codes and review who has access to sensitive areas.

• Dual Authentication: Ensure safes and high-value rooms require more than one person or a digital log to access.

• Surveillance: High-definition cameras with remote cloud storage are essential for identifying suspects even if they attempt to disable local systems.

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