New Porsche, Land Rover Stolen From Bernardsville Driveway: Police

BERNARDSVILLE, NJ — A resident reported that two cars with a combined value of about $145,000 were stolen from their driveway Wednesday morning, Bernardsville Police said.

The cars were locked. A thief, or thieves, got into the resident's Tower Mountain Drive home through an unlocked rear door and found keys to both cars, Chief Kevin Valentine said. One of the cars was driven through the yard to get access to the street, he said.

Valentine said the resident called around 6:15 a.m. on July 6 and said two of their cars were gone from the driveway: a 2022 Porsche valued at $75,000, and a 2018 Land Rover valued at around $70,000. One of the cars had a wallet inside, with about $100 in cash and some credit cards.

The cars were taken between 1:30 and 2 a.m., Valentine said.

The chief reminds residents to lock their vehicles and secure their valuables, especially because the thief or thieves in this case went into the victim's home.

"In past incidents thieves would mostly move on from locked vehicles," Valentine said. "What is troubling about this incident is that the suspects entered an occupied home in search of the keys, which greatly enhances the risk of confronting the residents inside the home.”

Police also warn residents that car thieves could be armed, though "there is no evidence in this incident to suggest that the actors were armed."

“Residents should take preventative action to ensure their homes, property and families are safe and secure,” said Valentine. “Vehicle theft continues
to be a problem in the region and throughout the state.”

Anyone with information about the car theft is asked to call police at (908) 766-0037. Residents in the area (Tower Mountain Drive near Mendham Road) are asked to check their security cameras for any footage.