Two men are in custody after a high-speed police chase involving a Mercedes stolen from a retired judge ended in a violent crash in Newark, New Jersey, early Friday morning.

The incident began around 4:30 a.m. when suspects allegedly broke into two homes in Kearny, including the residence of retired judge Ken Lindenfelser. Lindenfelser said he awoke to strange noises and looked out the window just in time to see his car — a Mercedes — being driven away.

“I heard my car door open and close and I looked out the window in time to see my car pulling out of the driveway with a second car following behind,” Lindenfelser recalled.

Police determined the suspects had entered his home, stolen the car key from his bedroom dresser while he was sleeping, and fled the scene. Using the Mercedes’ tracking app, Lindenfelser helped officers trace the vehicle as it moved through New Jersey.

“They actually refueled — I could see on my app the miles went up,” he said. “I was like, those guys put gas in my car.”

The chase ended when the stolen vehicle lost control in Newark, slamming into a fire hydrant and a utility pole. After a brief foot pursuit, officers apprehended both suspects. Police also recovered a loaded handgun with a high-capacity magazine at the crash site, along with items believed to have been stolen from other homes.

Lindenfelser said while the damage to his car doesn’t bother him much, realizing that armed intruders were just feet away as he slept has shaken him.

“It wasn’t bothering me, but the more I think about it, the more it makes me a little uncomfortable,” he admitted.

Authorities say the suspects are also linked to two additional burglaries that occurred the same morning. Both men face multiple charges, including burglary, vehicle theft, and weapons possession.