Morris County officials announce the arrest of Raymond Branch, 18, of Newark, in connection with an auto theft.
According to officials, on August 15, 2021, the Mountain Lakes Police Department responded to the report of a 2017 black Maserati Ghibli stolen from a residence.
During the initial investigation of the stolen vehicle, it was learned that a male also attempted to steal a 2021 Audi Q7 from a nearby residence.
The Maserati was recovered in Newark later that morning.
Subsequent investigation and information provided by surrounding law enforcement agencies identified Branch as a suspect.
According to officials, cellular telephone records provided by Essex County authorities were analyzed by Mountain Lakes Police and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Intelligence Unit.
Officials said that it was learned that Branch used real estate and mapping applications on his cellular phone in the area of the theft in Mt. Lakes on the morning of August 15.
Members of the Morris County Sheriff’s Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) section forensically processed the Maserati, which resulted in recovering a latent fingerprint from the front driver door window interior, matching to Raymond Branch.
As a result of this investigation, Branch was charged by complaint warrant and is currently lodged in the Somerset County Correctional Facility on separate theft charges.
Raymond Branch has been charged with Theft by Unlawful Taking and Conspiracy to Commit Theft.