On February 16 at 3AM, an off-duty (out of town) police officer reported that he and his family had been the victim of an attempted carjacking or robbery. The victim was dropping off a family member on Harrison Avenue when a white vehicle occupied by at least three males, blocked his vehicle in. A passenger in the suspect vehicle exited, displayed a handgun and approached his driver’s side. The officer immediately placed his vehicle in reverse and backed up to avoid being blocked in. The suspect returned to his vehicle and sped off. The victim called 911 and provided the description and direction of flight. Dispatch notified surrounding jurisdictions of the incident and learned that Kearny Police had pursued the vehicle on Route 280 earlier in the evening. Law Enforcement later learned the vehicle was stolen from Union and had been involved in a string of robberies in Essex and Union County the same night.