Two Newark Men Charged in Cranford Attempted Vehicle Theft

Suspects fled scene in stolen BMW, leading to charges of conspiracy and attempted theft.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 1:18pm

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Two men from Newark, New Jersey have been charged in connection with an attempted motor vehicle theft that occurred on February 5th in Cranford, New Jersey. The incident was reported around 7:41 a.m. when a victim saw a masked man sitting in the driver's seat of her BMW. When confronted, the suspect fled the scene in a waiting white BMW sedan that had been reported stolen. A follow-up investigation by the Cranford Police Department's Detective Bureau led to charges against Zayon Smallwood, 22, and Zaire Valencia, 23, both of Newark.

Why it matters

Vehicle theft is an ongoing issue in many communities, often linked to broader criminal activity. This case highlights the collaborative efforts of local and state law enforcement to apprehend suspects and prevent further incidents of this nature.

The details

According to police, when officers arrived at the scene, the suspects had already fled the area in the white BMW sedan. The victim told police she saw a masked man in her BMW and confronted him, causing the suspect to run to the waiting getaway vehicle. Authorities later confirmed the white BMW sedan had been reported stolen. The investigation led by Detective Sgt. Ryan Gerrity resulted in charges against Zayon Smallwood for attempted theft of a motor vehicle and Zaire Valencia for conspiracy to commit theft of a motor vehicle.

  • The incident was reported around 7:41 a.m. on February 5, 2026.
  • At the time of the announcement, both suspects were being held in the Essex County Jail on unrelated criminal charges.

The players

Zayon Smallwood

A 22-year-old Newark resident charged with third-degree attempted theft of a motor vehicle.

Zaire Valencia

A 23-year-old Newark resident charged with third-degree conspiracy to commit theft of a motor vehicle.

Cranford Police Department

The law enforcement agency that investigated the attempted vehicle theft and made the charges against the suspects.

Detective Sgt. Ryan Gerrity

The lead investigator on the case from the Cranford Police Department's Detective Bureau.

Cranford Police Chief Matthew Nazzaro

The police chief who commended the work of the department's patrol and investigative divisions and thanked other law enforcement agencies for their assistance.

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What they’re saying

“Our Investigative Division credited the New Jersey State Police Auto Theft Task Force, the Newark Police Robbery Division and the Monroe Township Police Department for assisting in the successful resolution of this investigation.”

— Cranford Police Chief Matthew Nazzaro

What’s next

The judge will decide on whether to allow Zayon Smallwood and Zaire Valencia to be released on bail for the charges related to this attempted vehicle theft case.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenge of vehicle theft in many communities and the importance of collaboration between local and state law enforcement agencies to apprehend suspects and prevent further incidents.