Lock Your Car Doors, Police Urge After Theft Attempt In Barnegat

BARNEGAT, NJ — Barnegat police are issuing a reminder to residents to lock their car doors after another attempted motor vehicle theft struck the township.

"Overnight, Barnegat officers investigated an incident of an attempted motor vehicle theft where the key fobs of the vehicle were left inside allowing the vehicle to be an easy target," police said Wednesday.

No details were shared about when exactly this happened or what location in town.

The homeowner saw the would-be thieves and interrupted them, police said.

Reported motor vehicle thefts have increased across the state, according to police.

"The increase within Ocean County is partially due to would-be offenders from outside of our community seeking out high-end vehicles that are left unlocked with the key fob inside," police said.

Other incidents involve unlocked vehicles without keys in them and would-be offenders attempting to enter the home through an unlocked door, window or using a garage door opener and entering through there to find the car keys, police said.

These often occur overnight, according to police, but have happened during daytime hours, too.

"We cannot stress this enough- KEEP YOUR CAR DOORS LOCKED," police said. "Do not create an easy opportunity for those committing these crimes."