Couple arrested in rental car theft after police chase — File Photo: Handcuffs © Big Stock Images.

Leonia, NJ – A couple was apprehended following a police pursuit that revealed a stolen rental vehicle from Oakland. The incident occurred shortly after 9 p.m. on Thursday, December 11.

Officer Kevin Do was conducting a “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” detail when an automated license plate reader indicated that the 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander was stolen.

Do followed the car south on Grand Avenue, where the driver eventually stopped in Palisades Park.

Officers Mark Schmidt and Sgt. Sihoon Chung joined the investigation, along with additional team members from Palisades Park and Ridgefield.

The driver, Herbert J. Jones, 41, of Dumont, was identified alongside his fiancé, Jenna E. Staudt, 32, of Newton, who rented the car.

Oakland Police Chief Timothy Keenan confirmed that the Outlander had been due for return to the local Enterprise Rent-A-Car on November 7.

Attempts to contact Staudt were unsuccessful, and the vehicle was entered into the National Crime Information Center database as stolen.

Following their arrests, Oakland officers transported Staudt from Leonia police headquarters to charge her with motor vehicle theft and theft of services.

Staudt remains in Bergen County jail, awaiting her first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack.

Jones faces charges of receiving stolen property and was released pending court action, with both parties also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.

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