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One Caught, Suspect Sought In Mahwah Tire Theft Chase

MAHWAH, N.J. – One man was chased down and another was being sought after Mahwah police caught them stealing tires from a local dealer late Thursday, authorities said.

Jheudi Cardenes-Cepeda

Jheudi Cardenes-Cepeda

Photo Credit: MUGSHOT: Courtesy MAHWAH PD
Mavis Discount Tire on Franklin Turnpike.

Mavis Discount Tire on Franklin Turnpike.

Photo Credit: COURTESY: Thomas Manuli

Sgt. Michael Blondin and Officer Christopher Monico responded to the Mavis Discount Tire store on Franklin Turnpike on a 10:30 p.m. call of two suspicious men sitting in a box truck, Police Chief James N. Batelli told Daily Voice.

There’s been thefts there before, the chief noted.

Blondin got there first, boxed in the truck with his car and spotted one of the thieves heading from the store to the back of the Mahwah Ford dealership, Batelli said.

Monico arrived to find Blondin chasing the suspect, who ran out from behind a vehicle and hopped a fence, he said.

“At the same time, Monico heard footsteps coming from behind him and turned to observe another individual running towards the front of the Ford lot,” Batelli said.

Monico chased down the suspect, who “stopped running and put his hands in the air,” he said.

The other thief vanished, he said.

Inside the box truck police found several used tires stolen from Mavis, as well as an employee’s bicycle and a hacksaw, which Batelli said “is commonly used to saw through padlocks and chains.”

The first suspect, 30-year-old Jheudi Cardenes-Cepeda of Paterson, refused to identify his accomplice and was taken into custody, the chief said.

Backups who’d arrived joined the search, along with K-9 Remco and his partner, Officer Robert Rapp.

Jheudi was processed at police headquarters and released, under New Jersey’s 2017 bail reform law, pending a court hearing on charges of burglary, resisting arrest, theft and possession of burglary tools.

Meanwhile, Batelli said, police continued to try to identify the thief who jumped over the fence.

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