Caught on camera: Police catch suspected thieves trying to steal ATVs from Roxbury business

Authorities say the group came from Philadelphia. They were caught attempting to load the ATVs onto a truck.

Matt Trapani and Amanda Lee

Sep 14, 2023, 12:29 AM

Updated 408 days ago

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Multiple people are facing charges for trying to steal nearly $500,000 worth of all-terrain vehicles from a store in Roxbury Township, according to officials.
The break-in at Ledgewood Powersports was caught on surveillance cameras surrounding the business.
“When you wake up at 4 a.m. and you see 10 people in your stock area pushing your $30,000 vehicles around, it gets your heart beating,” owner Noelle Schmidt. “Immediately we called the police department.”
Authorities say that the group came from Philadelphia. They were caught attempting to load the ATVs onto a truck. \
The owner of Ledgewood Powersports says this is not the first time the business has been targeted.
“Once was in 2017, one in 2019 and then again in 2023,” Schmidt says.
She says that all these incidents have one thing in common – the thieves did not get away with the crime.
“It’s the security system that we have and the relationship that we have with our surrounding police departments,” Schmidt says. The Roxbury Police Department is just 1 mile down the road. Officers were able to respond quickly.
“They think they probably didn’t realize what they were getting into and by the time they did, it was too late,” says Chief Dean Adone.
Nine were arrested Friday. Adone says that seven were released before officers even finished the paperwork.
“The big difference between now and five to six years ago is you can’t keep anyone in jail, because there’s no deterrent and people come out of jail as quick as they come in,” Adone says. "They continue to commit these same crimes in other places.”
The suspects are facing multiple charges, including attempted burglary and criminal trespassing.