Five Charged in Multi-County Burglary and Auto Theft Ring Targeting Luxury Vehicles

MORRISTOWN, NJ - Authorities have charged five individuals in connection with an alleged residential burglary and auto theft ring spanning Morris, Union, and Essex counties between September and December 2024. Prosecutors say the group targeted luxury vehicles, stole cars during home invasions, and used stolen police database information to locate potential victims.

The network’s alleged leaders, Tyshawn Z. Hoover, 24, and Samad A. Foster, 29, both of Newark, face multiple second- and third-degree charges, including conspiracy to commit residential burglary, motor vehicle theft, fencing, and computer criminal activity, as well as leadership of an auto theft trafficking network. Prosecutors allege Hoover also recruited a juvenile to participate in vehicle thefts.

According to investigators, Hoover, Foster, and Deeend T. Coleman-McRae, 25, of Hillside, were linked to a September 20, 2024 burglary in Florham Park, in which suspects entered a home, stole a key fob for a 2023 Land Rover, and drove off with the vehicle. Hoover is also accused of “fencing” the stolen Land Rover.

On November 20, 2024, the group allegedly attempted another burglary at a Florham Park home. Investigators say suspects arrived in a stolen vehicle and tried to enter both a 2022 Honda Civic and the residence by damaging a window screen but fled after being interrupted. That same day, Hoover and Foster were allegedly in West Orange, where a Mercedes-Benz GLE was stolen. Messages obtained during the investigation allegedly show an attempt to sell the stolen Mercedes.

Investigators further allege that Zayannah T. Overby, 22, of Newark, a civilian employee of the Newark Police Department, used her access to run license plates provided by Foster. She is accused of unlawfully obtaining addresses associated with luxury vehicles, including a Land Rover registered to the Florham Park residence targeted in the November burglary attempt.

The investigation also connected Hoover and a juvenile to a December 5, 2024 vehicle theft in Denville, in which an unoccupied, running BMW M5 was stolen.

During a search warrant execution at a Hillside residence, Coleman-McRae and Jameer D. Smith, 25, of Newark, were found with cocaine, heroin, two handguns (one defaced), two large-capacity magazines, drug distribution paraphernalia, and $7,060 in suspected drug proceeds. Both men face additional charges related to narcotics distribution and illegal firearms possession.

Charges Filed

• Hoover faces charges including conspiracy, multiple counts of motor vehicle theft and receiving stolen vehicles, fencing, attempted burglary and auto theft, use of a juvenile in auto theft, and leadership of an auto theft trafficking network.

• Foster faces similar charges to Hoover, excluding the juvenile-related charge.

• Coleman-McRae faces charges of conspiracy, motor vehicle theft, conspiracy to distribute controlled dangerous substances (CDS), heroin and cocaine distribution, firearm possession during a CDS offense, money laundering, and illegal firearm possession.

• Overby is charged with conspiracy, computer criminal activity, attempted burglary and auto theft, receiving a stolen motor vehicle, and participating in the trafficking network.

• Smith faces charges related to CDS distribution, heroin and cocaine possession, money laundering, and illegal firearm possession.

Hoover and Foster remain in the Essex County Jail, Smith in the Union County Jail, and Coleman-McRae in the Morris County Jail, all pending motions for pretrial detention. Overby has been released under Pre-Trial Monitoring Level II.

The probe involved the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Special Operations Division, Morris County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, Florham Park Police Department, Union County Prosecutor’s Office, and Denville Police Department.

Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll praised the interagency collaboration, noting that “burglars entering homes has eroded residents’ sense of safety.” Florham Park Police Chief Joseph Orlando also credited Detective Thomas Belli for his “extensive and exhaustive investigative efforts.”

Prosecutor Carroll said: “As I said last autumn with the signing of new legislation increasing the penalties for home invasions, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office is taking the concerns expressed by the public and our municipal police chiefs seriously – burglars entering homes has eroded residents’ sense of safety. I applaud all our law enforcement partners for doggedly doing their due diligence to expose this criminal network, especially the efforts of MCPO Lt. James Bruno, MCPO Sgt. Sasha Gould, MCPO Det. Lamar Hagans, Florham Park PD Det. Thomas Belli, Denville PD Det. Michael Ambrose, and Assistant Prosecutor Noelle Fiorentino. It was a time-consuming and expansive investigation and demonstrates excellent multiple interagency cooperation among dedicated law enforcement personnel. We will not hesitate to aggressively use the expanded burglary law when appropriate to hold those who violate the sanctity of our residents’ homes accountable. Our shared goal is to also deter the recruitment of juveniles into criminal organizations, which has become a serious problem.”

Chief Orlando said, “I am grateful to Prosecutor Carroll for hearing and understanding the concerns of our residents and the municipal police chiefs regarding the seriousness of these crimes and the significant role he played in securing revisions to the State statutes enhancing the penalties for the same. I want to thank the outstanding police work and cooperation exhibited across Local, County, and Federal Law enforcement, which was crucial in bringing these cases to a successful conclusion. I particularly want to recognize Detective Thomas Belli, whose extensive and exhaustive investigative efforts identified the involved suspects and set the table for a significantly larger, far-reaching investigation.”

Authorities emphasized that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

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