Khalif Willard
On February 5, 2025 at 2:51 A.M., an alert Grace Avenue resident called 9-1-1 and stated there was a burglary in progress to his neighbor’s residence, located on the 200 block of Grace Avenue. The resident further reported that the burglars entered a BMW X3 and were fleeing the scene. The resident was home sleeping at the time of the burglary and also called 9-1-1 when she heard someone within her home. When the burglar became aware the resident awoke, he fled to the awaiting BMW X3, which was occupied by his co-conspirators.
Secaucus Patrol Units responding to the 9-1-1 calls observed the BMW X3 fleeing onto Paterson Plank Road, while travelling at a high rate of speed headed toward Route 3 East. Secaucus Police pursued the BMW X3 onto the New Jersey Turnpike until they lost sight of it shortly thereafter. Later that morning, these burglars committed another home invasion in Union, New Jersey while utilziing the BMW X3.
Detectives from the Secaucus Police Anti-Crime Unit responded to the scene and conducted their crime scene investigation. During the investigation it became known that Khalif Willard also attempted to enter a second residence on the 200 block of Grace Avenue on February 5, 2025. It is believed that the motive for the burglaries was to steal the residents’ vehicles.
During the three month long investigation, detectives from the Secaucus Police Anti-Crime Unit, under the supervision of Detective Sergeant Matthew Ford, travelled to New York City and various other municipalities in New Jersey where they gathered vital evidence. Secaucus Police Detectives worked collabortively with the Union Township, Livingston, Woodbrige, Essex Fells and East Orange Police Departments, NYPD and the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office during the investigation.
On May 29, 2025, Detectives from the Secaucus Police Anti-Crime Unit arrested Khalif Willard, 21, of East Orange and charged him the the Grace Avenue burglary and attempted burglary. During a court authorized search of his residence additional evidence linking him to the burglaries was found. Additionally, a 9mm “Ghost” handgun, a seventeen round “large capacity” magazine, $3,284.00 in cash, 9mm, 40 caliber and .223 caliber rounds of ammunition, along with several ounces of suspected marijuana were seized.
“I want to commend the boldness of the alert neighbor for getting involved and reporting his suspicions to the police,” Chief Dennis Miller said. “I also want to commend the investigative talent of Detective Jason Mitchell and the other members of the Seaucus Police Anti-Crime Unit. I want to thank all of the other agencies who assisted our detectives for their collaborative efforts. This case is representative that the members of the Secaucus Police Department will not rest until they bring criminals to justice who victimize our residents.”
Khalif Willard was charged with Residential Burglary [2C:18-2.2; 2C:2-6], Criminal Attempt to Commit Residential Burglary [2C:5-1/2C:18-2.2;2C:2-6] and Conspiracy to Commit Residential Burglary and Theft of a Motor Vehicle [2C:5-2/2C:18-2.2 & 2C:20-10.1], Unlawful Possession of Firearm without a Serial Number [2C:39-3(n)], Posssession of a Large Capacity Magazine [2C:39-9j], Purchasing Firearm Parts to Manufacture a Firearm without a Serial Number [2C:39-9k], Possession of Firearm while Committing CDS Offense [2C:39-4.1A], Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana [2C:35-5b(11)] and Money Laundering [2C:21-25A]. He was detained in the Essex County Jail on these and similar charges from various other municipalities.
These charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The investigation is still ongoing and more arrests could be made.
