Four Camden residents were arrested and charged in December in connection with catalytic converter thefts in Ocean Township.
Police said on Dec. 14 at approximately 12:34 a.m. officers were dispatched to Kneeley Boulevard for a report of a possible theft of catalytic converters. Upon their arrival, Officers Michael Abbott and Brett Blank observed a vehicle parked in the lot with a female inside, whom they identified as Mariah L. Woodsruiz, 27. While they were speaking with Woodsruiz, police could hear people running through the wooded area surrounding the parking lot.
Other officers arrived on scene and began checking the area. While doing so, they located several catalytic converters laying near the vehicles parked in the lot as well as saw blades.
A K-9, Skye, and Monmouth County Sheriff’s Officer Kroeper responded to assist with the investigation. Officers located Daniel Sanjurjo, 24, Ramon L. Saldana, 25 and Javier O. Moreno-Rivera, 25, walking in the area. The three subjects said that they ran out of gas and left to find a gas can for the vehicle.
During the on-scene investigation, it was determined that Sanjurjo, Saldana, and Moreno-Rivera had entered the property and removed several catalytic converters from the vehicles that were parked there. Sanjurjo, Saldana, and Moreno-Rivera were all placed under arrest, as well as Woodsruiz for her involvement in the incident. They were transported to HQ for processing and declined to speak with detectives. All four suspects were charged with theft, possession of burglar’s tools, criminal trespass, and criminal mischief. They were committed to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution pending an initial court appearance.
