Car Stolen In Nutley While Owner Fills Up Tires: Police

NUTLEY, NJ — A man in a mask jumped into a car and drove away while its owner was filling up the tires with air earlier this week, Nutley police said.

According to the Nutley Police Department, the incident took place Tuesday on Washington Avenue.

The victim told officers that they were putting air in their tires, when they turned around and saw a man in black pants, a face mask and a black sweatshirt get into their 2018 white BMW 430 and drive away south on Washington Avenue.

The vehicle was left running, with the key fob and other personal items inside the car, police said.

According to police, surveillance video footage shows the man walking across the gas station towards the victim’s vehicle. He waits for them to turn away, then jumps in the driver’s seat and pulls away (see below photo).

About 15 minutes after the theft, police in Newark contacted their Nutley peers to report that a stolen vehicle was recovered in the city. The occupant fled the scene after crashing it, authorities said.

The vehicle was towed to Nutley police headquarters, where it was processed by the Detective Bureau. An investigation is ongoing, authorities said Friday.

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