Cops Investigate 5 Stolen Vehicles With Parsippany Ties In 18 Days

Parsippany, N.J. – Five stolen vehicles were either taken from Parsippany or recovered in the township in less than three weeks between June and July, police reported.

On June 21, at 12:40 a.m., police received a call for an erratic driver that pulled into Veterans Park and found a 1998 Dodge Ram 1500. Police instructed the driver to exit the vehicle and give identification, which the driver did not have, and produced a false name, police said.

After a brief investigation, the driver, later identified as Brian Hogarth, 38, of Hammonton, was arrested for driving while intoxicated, hindering apprehension, refusal to submit breath tests, revocation for refusal, reckless driving, and driving while suspended. While in policy custody, it was learned that a purse inside the vehicle, as well as the vehicle itself, were stolen out of Dover from the night before. Hogarth was later charged with receiving stolen property and bail was set at $10,000 with no 10-percent option.

On July 1 at 5:32 p.m., police responded to Waterview Park and Ride in response to a car theft and spoke with a victim who said his 2016 Audi A7 was taken sometime between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. that day, police said. Nearly two weeks later, on July 13, Parsippany police were contacted by Newark’s Police Department to say the vehicle was found in that jurisdiction.

Also on July 1, police received a call from a vehicle monitoring service reporting a stolen motor vehicle was located at 61 Interpace Parkway, police said. Officers and detectives responded to the scene and located a 2016 Lexus RX 350 unoccupied in the parking lot. White Plains Police Department in New York was contacted and advised the vehicle had been recovered and was later turned over to the registered owner.

On July 2 at 9:53 a.m., police were contacted by Penske Truck Rentals at 600 Edwards Road for a report of a box truck theft. When offices arrived they were told by a company representative that a 2014 Ford box truck rented to a moving company was stolen from the Arlington Plaza parking lot, police said. The moving company said the vehicle was parked near the Staples on June 28, full of a customer’s household goods and went missing sometime between that day and July 2, police said.

On July 9, police were contacted by a victim at 6:29 a.m. for a report of a motor vehicle theft. The victim told police his 2010 BMW 355 was taken from his driveway, and that the victim last saw the vehicle around midnight.

Police were then contacted by Newark police on July 11 to say the vehicle was recovered in that jurisdiction.

All incidents remain under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Parsippany Investigative Division at 973-263-4311.