A Bentley driver fought off a trio of young robbers who tried to force him out of his expensive car in a carjacking in New Jersey on Friday, but the luxury car enthusiast was targeted by the carjackers. This wasn’t the first time.
The attempted theft occurred in the parking lot of an Edison grocery store owned by the victim’s family and was captured on dramatic surveillance footage. Get it at ABC7.
The video shows three masked men, believed to be teenagers, running up to the orange Bentley Bentayga as the driver opens the door.
The robbers then punched him and tried to pry him out of the car, but one of them grabbed his leg and dragged him out, the footage shows.
He was freed from the trio, ran into his family’s store and called the police. He was unable to get into his expensive SUV and drive off because he had the keychain in his pocket.
The victim was shaken by the ambush but unharmed, his father, Kaushik Patel, told ABC 7.
Patel said she was horrified after watching the surveillance footage of the attack, but her son assured her he was safe with only “minor scratches.”
However, the son has not been so lucky during previous carjacking attempts by robbers. They managed to steal his other expensive car, a Mercedes G-Class SUV.
Carjackings are on the rise in the region, and are often carried out by teenage boys who are hired by organized crime groups to steal luxury cars, as the consequences are less serious for minors, the station reported.
Edison Mayor Sam Joshi is increasing patrols to combat the increase.
“We have tripled, and in some cases quadrupled, our police presence on the streets and on patrol,” the department said. “Over 80 license plates. He also introduced readers.”
But he said there is only so much he can do unless state laws regarding juvenile delinquency change.
“Juvenile offenders and criminals should not be back on the streets the same week they are arrested. That is completely unacceptable,” Joshi said.
Police are continuing to search for the three carjacking suspects involved in Friday’s assault.
