Morris County Prosecutor’s Office announces charges in multi-county burglary and auto theft ring
MORRISTOWN, N.J. (Morris County) — Authorities in Morris, Union, and Essex counties have filed charges against multiple individuals allegedly involved in a coordinated criminal network responsible for residential burglaries, motor vehicle thefts, fencing, and related offenses across North Jersey.
According to Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll and law enforcement officials from Florham Park, Denville, Union County, and Essex County, the conspiracy operated between September and December 2024 and involved suspects from Newark and Hillside. Tyshawn Hoover, 24, and Samad Foster, 29, both of Newark, were identified as leaders of the operation. Investigators say the two orchestrated burglaries in Florham Park, West Orange, and Denville, with assistance from co-conspirators including Deeend Coleman-McRae, 25, of Hillside; Zayannah Overby, 22, of Newark; and a juvenile whose name was not released.
The investigation, which relied on search warrants, surveillance footage, and cell phone data, alleges Hoover and Foster stole luxury vehicles including a Land Rover and a Mercedes-Benz, and later attempted to fence the stolen cars. In one incident on Sept. 20, two suspects entered a home in Florham Park, stole a key fob, and took a 2023 Land Rover. On Nov. 20, another attempted break-in in Florham Park involved a stolen vehicle and efforts to access a locked home and Honda Civic before being interrupted. The same day, authorities say the group stole a Mercedes in West Orange.
Investigators allege that Overby, a civilian employee of the Newark Police Department, used department systems to run license plates of targeted vehicles, sharing address information with Foster to facilitate the thefts. She allegedly ran a plate linked to a Florham Park residence involved in the Nov. 20 incident without authorization.
Coleman-McRae and another suspect, Jameer D. Smith, 25, of Newark, were taken into custody during a raid at a Hillside residence, where police allegedly recovered heroin, cocaine, two handguns (one defaced), high-capacity magazines, and $7,060 in suspected drug proceeds.
Hoover faces 12 charges in Morris County, including second-degree conspiracy to commit burglary, auto theft, fencing, and computer criminal activity, as well as leadership of an auto theft trafficking network and using a juvenile in a theft. He also faces multiple counts of receiving stolen vehicles, burglary, and third-degree criminal mischief.
Foster is similarly charged with second-degree conspiracy, leadership of an auto theft ring, and burglary-related offenses. He also faces counts of receiving stolen vehicles and criminal mischief.
Coleman-McRae faces charges in Morris and Union counties, including conspiracy, second-degree auto theft, drug distribution, possession of weapons during a drug offense, and third- and fourth-degree weapons and drug-related offenses.
Overby has been charged in Morris and Essex counties with second-degree conspiracy and computer criminal activity, as well as burglary attempts and motor vehicle theft.
Smith faces Union County charges for second-degree drug distribution and weapons possession, and third- and fourth-degree counts for drug possession, money laundering, defaced firearms, and large-capacity magazines.
Hoover, Foster, Coleman-McRae, and Smith remain detained pending pretrial detention motions under New Jersey’s Criminal Justice Reform Act. Overby has been released under court-ordered monitoring.
Prosecutor Carroll praised the multi-agency cooperation behind the investigation, crediting the combined efforts of local and federal partners in dismantling the network. He reaffirmed the county’s commitment to enforcing newly strengthened state burglary laws, saying the surge in home invasions has seriously impacted public safety.
Florham Park Police Chief Joseph Orlando commended the collaboration and specifically recognized Detective Thomas Belli for his investigative work, calling the case a testament to the effectiveness of interagency teamwork.
The investigation included assistance from the Morris County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and local police departments in Florham Park and Denville. Prosecutors said additional arrests and charges may follow as the case develops.
