Masked Burglary Ring Busted: 4 Charged in “High-End” North Jersey Car Key Heists
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Twp of Washington NJ, A terrifying multi-town crime spree has come to an end after authorities dismantled a sophisticated burglary ring that targeted homes across Bergen, Passaic, and Essex counties.
The group, which included three men from Newark and East Orange and one juvenile, allegedly specialized in “key-hunting”—storming occupied homes specifically to find fobs for luxury vehicles.
A New Year’s Eve Invasion in Washington Township
The investigation caught fire following a chilling home invasion on Julia Court in Washington Township at 4:50 a.m. on December 31. According to Chief Arsenio Pecora, masked individuals smashed through a rear window while the homeowner was still inside.
The crew was frantically searching for car keys but was scared off by the resident. They fled the scene in a dark-colored sedan, but their luck was about to run out.
The Leonia Connection: A Range Rover Stolen
Just 40 minutes later, at 5:30 a.m., the same crew struck a home on Summit Avenue in Leonia. This time, they entered through an unlocked door, successfully grabbed the keys to a Range Rover, and sped off in both the stolen SUV and their getaway car—later identified as a stolen 2019 BMW from Bloomfield.
How They Were Caught:
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License Plate Readers (ALPR): Cameras captured the stolen vehicles moving toward the NJ Turnpike.
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Digital Breadcrumbs: Investigators used communications warrants to track five cell phones that were present at crime scenes in Washington Township, Leonia, Nutley, and Wayne.
The Suspects and Charges
Following a massive coordinated effort by police departments in Washington Township, Leonia, and Clifton, authorities charged the following individuals:
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Alquadir Hester (Newark)
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Ameer Hester-Hall (Newark)
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Dupree Turner (East Orange)
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One Juvenile (Name withheld)
The group faces a litany of serious charges, including:
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Conspiracy to commit residential burglary.
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Residential burglary.
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Attempted motor vehicle theft.
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Employing a juvenile to commit criminal offenses.
Public Safety Warning: How to Protect Your Home
Leonia Police Chief Scott Tamagny and other local leaders are urging residents to stay vigilant as “key-hunting” burglaries rise in North Jersey.
“The suspects are often specifically looking for keys to high-end vehicles. Ensure your doors and windows are locked, and never leave your fobs in plain sight near entry points.”
Quick Safety Checklist:
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Lock All Entry Points: The Leonia suspects entered through an unlocked door.
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Hide Your Keys: Don’t leave fobs on “drop tables” near the front or back door.
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Install ALPR or Security Cameras: High-quality footage and plate data were instrumental in these arrests.
Summary of the Investigation
| Location | Incident Type | Key Detail |
| Washington Twp | Attempted Burglary | Resident was home at the time. |
| Leonia | Successful Burglary | Range Rover stolen and tracked to Newark. |
| Nutley/Wayne | Linked Burglaries | Phone data matched other crime scenes. |
| Bloomfield | Stolen Vehicle | Getaway car (BMW) was stolen from here. |
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Nothing to see here folks its the usual suspects.
‘youths” “young men’ teens’
well well well
“Diversity is our strength.”