City man found driving stolen SUV arrested, police said
Suspect charged with theft and burglary at two Vineland auto dealerships
City man found driving stolen SUV arrested, police said Suspect charged with theft and burglary at two Vineland auto dealerships Check out this story on thedailyjournal.com: http://vineland.dj/1GoVPB6
Deborah M. Marko, dmarko@thedailyjournal.com Published 6:09 p.m. ET March 10, 2015
James D. Roberts(Photo: Vineland Police Department)
VINELAND – A 20-year-old city man was arrested Monday after police said he was driving a vehicle with plates connected to thefts at two separate Delsea Drive car dealerships.
James D. Roberts of the 700 block of Quince Street was charged with three counts of burglary and two counts of auto theft after a traffic stop along North Delsea Drive.
Police responded to a call reporting a suspicious vehicle, a white Ford Explorer with emergency lights flashing in the front windshield, driving around in the area of West Avenue and Almond Street.
After learning the tag on the vehicle was reported stolen from Team Nissan in November, police conducted a traffic stop in the Little Caesars Pizza parking lot. When the vehicle stopped, the driver reportedly fled while a passenger remained at the scene, police said.
The driver, later identified as Roberts, was apprehended a short distance away after a foot pursuit with officers, according to police reports.
The passenger was detained for investigative purposes but later released without being charged.
An investigation revealed the Explorer was reported stolen from Lilliston Ford on Jan. 17.
Roberts was additionally charged with two counts of burglary at Lilliston Ford and a burglary from Team Nissan.
A second vehicle, a 2015 Nissan Altima, allegedly stolen by Roberts, was subsequently recovered by police in Mays Landing as a result of the investigation, police said.
The 2015 Ford Explorer was valued at $41,665 and the Altima had a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $24,235
Roberts was taken to the Cumberland County Jail on warrants with bail totaling $154,000.
The continuing criminal investigation is under the direction of police Detective Richard Burke.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Vineland police detective bureau at (856) 691-4111 or Crime Stoppers at (856) 691-0345.
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