2 Men Arrested By Secaucus Police For Fencing Stolen Auto Parts

Secaucus Police Chief Dennis Miller this afternoon reported the arrests of two men, one from Jersey City and the other from Bayonne, for fencing stolen automobile parts.  A press release from the Secaucus Police Department says the scenario began about a week and a half ago.

The release states, “On December 30, 2024, Secaucus Police responded to the 500 block of New County Road on a report of an abandoned vehicle.  When officers arrived, they located a 2015 Honda CRV missing its bumper, passenger side door and headlights.  It was discovered the vehicle was stolen from Weehawken, NJ on December 28, 2024.”

The release further says, “On January 1, 2025, Secaucus Police responded to the 200 Block of Secaucus Road on report of an abandoned vehicle.  When officers arrived, they located a 2023 Acura TLX missing its bumper, grill and wheels. It was discovered the vehicle was stolen from Kenilworth, NJ on December 31, 2024.”  

Chief Miller says that detectives from the Secaucus Police Department’s Anti-Crime Unit received information that the bumper and rims/tires from the stolen Acura were being sold.  While acting in an undercover capacity, the Chief says detectives from the Anti-Crime Unit made arrangements with the seller(s) to purchase the some of the stolen automobile parts on Myrtle Avenue in Jersey City.  

Three days ago, on January 3, Undercover Detectives from the Secaucus Police Anti-Crime Unit purchased the Acura’s stolen rims/tires from Jarol Vasquez-Puig and Freddy Mendoza-Polanco in front of Jarol Vasquez-Puig’s Myrtle Avenue residence.  Both were placed under arrest by members of the Secaucus Police Department Anti-Crime Unit and Jersey City Police Department’s Intelligence Unit.

During a consensual search of Jarol Vasquez-Puig’s residence, detectives found numerous automobile parts throughout the backyard and alleyway.  Included among the automobile parts were the bumper stolen from the aforementioned 2023 Acura and the passenger door stolen from the aforementioned Honda CRV.   Chief Miller adds that a license plate from a stolen Honda was also recovered.  Additionally, Detectives located a ‘Jiajue’ motorcyle in Jarol Vasquez-Puig’s backyard that was found to have been stolen in Jersey City on December 6, 2024.  

Chief Miller proudly stated, “Secaucus will not be the dumping ground for stolen vehicles any longer.  My Detectives will exhaust every lead to identify criminals who enter into our locale solely to commit nefarious acts.  They have my authorization to use whatever resources are necessary to bring those involved to justice.  Collaboratively working with and sharing intelligence with other law enforcement agencies, like the Jersey City Police Department in this case, is the only way we can prevail against criminals who have no borders. I am proud of my Detectives’ investigative work and I commend all involved in this case.”

18-year old Jarol Vasquez-Puig of Jersey City and 38-year old Freddy Mendoz-Polanco of Bayonne were each charged with Receiving Stolen Property, Fencing and Conspiracy to Commit Fencing.  Vasquez-Puig was additionally charged with Operation of a Facility for Sale of Stolen Automobile Parts along with a second count of Receiving Stolen Property.  The Jersey City Police Department also charged Vasquez-Puig with Receiving a Stolen Motor Vehicle.  He is being held in the Hudson County Jail, while Mendoz-Polanco was released, pending his appearance in Court.  

This investigation is ongoing and additional charges and arrests may follow.

Anyone with additional information can contact the Secaucus Police Detective Division at (201) 330-2052 or detectivedivsion@secaucusnjpolice.gov.

These charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.