A 17-year-old resident of Sicklerville is facing charges of carjacking after a daring attempt to steal a man’s car outside the Jersey Bagel convenience store in Winslow took a dramatic turn on Monday morning.
According to Winslow Township police, the incident unfolded shortly before 11 a.m. when a 30-year-old Sicklerville man parked his vehicle outside the Jersey Bagel store on Sicklerville Road, leaving it running.
The teenager, also from Sicklerville, seized the opportunity, climbed into the running vehicle, and began to drive away.
However, the quick-thinking owner, who had just exited the store, noticed the theft in progress and leaped into the passenger seat in an attempt to thwart the carjacking.
A struggle ensued between the car owner and the 17-year-old suspect, resulting in the vehicle colliding with two other cars near the bagel shop. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in the incident.
Undeterred, the teen fled the scene on foot after abandoning the stolen vehicle. Fortunately, a Winslow police officer, who happened to be passing by just after the carjacking attempt, initiated a swift response.
K-9 units from the Camden County Sheriff’s Office and Voorhees Township Police Department were deployed to track down the suspect. The search led them to the Kenwood Condominium complex, where the 17-year-old was apprehended.
The teenager was subsequently charged with carjacking and taken into custody. He has been sent to the Camden County Juvenile Detention Center to await further legal proceedings.
The car owner, displaying courage and quick reflexes, managed to prevent the carjacking but not without consequences. The stolen vehicle crashed into another car on Sicklerville Road before rolling and colliding with a parked car in the Jersey Bagel parking lot.
Law enforcement officials commend the car owner’s bravery and emphasize the importance of remaining vigilant, especially in public places. The incident serves as a reminder for residents to take precautions, such as turning off and securing their vehicles when left unattended, to deter opportunistic crimes.