NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
A driver thwarted an attempted carjacking by three masked assailants in the parking lot of a Patel Brothers grocery store in Edison, New Jersey recently. The driver is the son of Kaushik Patel, one of the owners of the Patel Brothers on Oak Tree Road.
Surveillance footage captured the dramatic encounter as the suspects attempted to forcibly remove the driver from his vehicle. Despite being outnumbered, the driver managed to resist their efforts and ultimately escaped the ordeal with minor injuries.
Kaushik Patel expressed his relief upon learning that his son was unharmed, albeit shaken by the experience.
“When I saw the video I was scared, what happened, but then I called and my son said, ‘I’m safe dad, don’t worry, everything is good, just minor scratches,'” Patel told the local media.
The driver had his key fob in his pocket, preventing the thieves from stealing the SUV. This incident marked the second time the driver has been targeted by carjackers, with the first attempt resulting in the theft of his Mercedes G-Class SUV.
Following the incident, law enforcement swiftly took action to apprehend the perpetrators. Police Chief Thomas Bryan confirmed that two of the three suspects, aged 16 and 17, have been taken into custody. Hailing the efforts of his team, Bryan praised the diligence of his detectives in swiftly locating the individuals responsible for the attempted carjacking.
The arrested teens, hailing from neighboring Rahway, face charges including carjacking resulting in injury, aggravated assault, burglary, and criminal conspiracy. Additionally, the 16-year-old suspect faces charges of hindering apprehension and resisting arrest by flight.
As the investigation progresses, authorities are determining whether the apprehended teens have a prior criminal record.
The third assailant still remains at large.
