Branchburg Township, N.J. – A Sommerville man has been arrested and charged for stealing a car owned by a woman employed by a local business while she was working.
According to Acting Somerset County Prosecutor Annmarie Taggart and Chief of County Detectives John W. Fodor, James Owens, age 39, Somerville, was arrested for theft of a motor vehicle from a business.
“The theft occurred on Route 22 in Branchburg Township on Thursday at approximately 11:35 a.m. officers were dispatched to a business on Route 22 for a report of a motor vehicle theft in response to a 9-1-1 call which had been received by Somerset County Communications,” police said. “Upon their arrival investigating officers spoke with the victim who reported that her vehicle had been parked outside of her place of employment. A review of the video surveillance cameras outside of the business showed a male enter into the unlocked vehicle, exit the parking lot, and travel East on Route 22.”
The vehicle was recovered by police with the assistance of the victim, as investigating officers were able to determine that the vehicle was driven to Somerville where it was parked in the area of Mechanic Street.
“Within a short period of time Somerville Police located the parked stolen vehicle. A Somerville Police Officer was also able to identify the male in the business surveillance video as being James Owens,” the Branchburg Police Department said. “On Sunday, May 1, 2022 at approximately 8:28 p.m. Somerville Police Officers located James Owens after receiving a report of a suspicious male in the area of Rehill Avenue, Somerville, New Jersey. Responding Somerville Officers took Owens into custody without incident. Somerville Police then turned defendant James Owens over to Branchburg Police Officers.”