2 Charged in South Brunswick Dirt Bike Theft, Police Say

Authorities followed footprints in the snow to locate the suspects.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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Two New Brunswick residents, an 18-year-old man and a 17-year-old juvenile, have been charged in connection with the theft of seven dirt bikes from a South Brunswick home. Police responded to a report of a theft in progress at Ireland Brook Park and were able to recover several of the stolen bikes, but three remained missing. The suspects were located and arrested after police followed footprints in the snow to a home on Ireland Brook Drive.

Why it matters

Dirt bike thefts have been an ongoing issue in the South Brunswick area, with residents concerned about the impact on public safety and property crime rates. This case highlights the importance of community vigilance and effective police response in addressing these types of crimes.

The details

According to police, the homeowner on Davidson Mill Road discovered several dirt bikes missing from his garage and saw a man dressed in black running behind a home on Ireland Brook Drive. Surveillance footage showed two men walking behind the home around 2:10 a.m., covering security cameras with blankets. Officers followed footprints in the snow to a home on Ireland Brook Drive, where they found Christopher Diaz-Escobar, 18, of New Brunswick, sitting in a lawn chair wearing all black clothing and a face mask. A 17-year-old New Brunswick boy was also arrested on Riva Avenue. Police impounded two vehicles from the parking lot of Ireland Brook Park and Greenwich Court.

  • On Feb. 12, police responded to a report of a theft in progress at Ireland Brook Park around 7:30 a.m.
  • The homeowner discovered the dirt bikes missing from his garage and saw a man running behind a home on Ireland Brook Drive.

The players

Christopher Diaz-Escobar

An 18-year-old resident of New Brunswick who was charged with seven counts of motor vehicle theft and two counts of burglary.

17-year-old New Brunswick boy

A juvenile who was charged with seven counts of motor vehicle theft and two counts of burglary.

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What’s next

The suspects are being held pending a court appearance, and police are continuing to investigate the theft and search for the remaining missing dirt bikes.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing issue of dirt bike thefts in the South Brunswick area and the importance of community vigilance and effective police response in addressing these types of crimes. The recovery of several of the stolen bikes and the arrest of the suspects demonstrate the success of the police investigation, but the search for the remaining missing bikes continues.