BERKELEY TWP-The failures of New Jersey’s bail reform were evident recently on the quiet suburban streets of Berkeley Township after a repeat car thief stole another vehicle here in September. Police captured a previously charged and released suspect in multiple car theft cases.
During the overnight hours on September 23rd, 2018 the Berkeley Township Patrol Division responded to the area of Point Pleasant Avenue and Oak Street in the Millcreek section of Bayville for a report of a stolen vehicle. The victim reported his spare key stolen several weeks ago and on this night he observed an unknown subject in his vehicle backing out of his driveway stealing his car.
The victim gave chase and contacted the police who arrived a short time later. The car thief abandoned the vehicle while it was moving and fled on foot. A search of the area involving multiple police personnel to include a canine unit searched for the thief but he was not located.
Detective Joseph Santoro was called out to the scene to investigate. During the course of his investigation, Detective Santoro identified a vehicle that the suspect arrived in prior to stealing the car. This vehicle was impounded pending the application of a search warrant.
As a result of this investigation a male identified as Marquarn Mcquitta 21 from Trenton, was developed as a suspect.
The following day Detective Santoro, assisted by Detective Lieutenant Peter La Rocca and Detective Michael O’Connor as well as members of Lacey Township Police Department, located Mcquitta and arrested him without incident in the Cornerstone Apartment Complex near Lacey Rd. Mcquitta was charged with car theft and employing a juvenile and the commission of a crime.
Mcquitta also had eight outstanding arrest warrants from numerous jurisdictions throughout the state. These include theft from Ewing Township for $250.00, Forgery out of Ewing Township with no bail set,
In 2016, in Trenton, McQuitta was arrested after police allegedly found them inside a Toyota minivan that was previously stolen out of Pemberton. Officials say police were patrolling the 300 block of Breunig Avenue when they saw two males sitting in the minivan with the seats completely reclined as if they were sleeping. Police searched the van’s license plate in a database and learned it was reported stolen, so they arrested the occupants. McQuitta was charged with receiving stolen property.
Theft, no bail set Ewing Township, two Criminal Trespass warrants from Pemberton Boro in the amount of $1,000 each, Suspended Driver no bail listed from Trenton, Possession of stolen property in the amount of $250.00 from Trenton and Criminal Trespass in the amount of $1393.00 out of Pemberton Township. Mcquitta was lodged in the Ocean County Jail.
The Berkeley Township Police have recovered numerous key FOBs for various makes and models of cars as a result of this investigation. If you were The victim of some type of theft involving your Spare car key, please contact the Berkeley Township Detective Bureau at 732-341-1132 x2120 .
According to the Ocean County Jail Inmate Directory, McQuitta is no longer incarcerated at the Ocean County Jail.