New Jersey officials charged men with running car theft ring that led to killing of a Philly police officer

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel stands next to the mugshots of 13 men charged in connection to a South Jersey-based auto theft ring linked to the killing of a Philadelphia police officer. Read more Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

by Ellie Rushing Published Sept. 5, 2025, 2:29 p.m. ET

Under the cover of night, law enforcement officials say, the men crept into the parking lots of airports and car dealerships to steal Jeeps, Dodges, and Ram trucks.

Using screwdrivers and bolt cutters, they broke into cars and drove them back to their home base in Camden, police said. There, officials said, they would strip a car of its license plate, assign it a new VIN number, and fraudulently reregister the vehicle before selling it over social media for thousands of dolla