Burglars Break Into A Series Of Livingston Homes Looking For Car Keys: Police

LIVINGSTON, NJ — Livingston police had to respond to a series of home burglaries last week in which — they believe — the suspects were hoping to steal keys so they could drive off in the homeowners' cars, a growing trend in the area.

These are the reports:

On Wednesday, May 24, at 4:36 a.m., Livingston police headed to a Longview Road residence on a report of possible burglary in progress. The homeowner said that their nanny awoke to find someone trying to break in through a window. The nanny scared the person off. "It is believed they were attempting to steal key fobs for the homeowner’s vehicles," police noted.

Then, that night, at 9:38 p.m., Livingston officers responded to a Fordham Road residence on a report of an attempted car theft. A neighbor told police that he saw someone jump into his neighbor's Mercedes and try to steal it. The suspect was unsuccessful because the key fob was not inside, police say.

On Thursday, at 1:51 a.m., police responded to a report from Ross Road of three strangers in the rear yard of a residence. The homeowner said he'd seen them trying to get in. Police pursued a vehicle with suspects, but it headed out of town. Police say they believe, as with the other incident, that the suspects were hoping to steal key fobs for the vehicles.

Then, on Saturday, May 27, at 5:01 a.m., Livingston officers responded to Fellswood Drive on a report of someone trying to get into a home. The homeowner said he awoke to a noise in his kitchen, then found several windows forced open. But the suspect or suspects didn't get in. Police believe that in this case, too, the suspects were trying to get key fobs.

Around the same time, at 5:02 a.m., police responded to Rumson Road on a report of a burglary to the residence and a stolen vehicle. A homeowner said that after being woken up by barking dogs, the person noticed that a window was open and someone had taken they keys to the Audi Q5. As it turned out, the car was missing. Police found it a short time later in Hillside.

That night, at 10:17 p.m., police responded to a Fordham Road residence on a report of a burglar alarm going off. The front door had been forced open, but nothing was missing in the house, they said.

The next day, Sunday, at 6:09 a.m., police responded to a Glendale Avenue home for a stolen vehicle report. The victim said their Mercedes S560 had been stolen from the driveway overnight. It had been left unlocked with the key fob inside.

Then, on Monday, Labor Day, at 3:45 a.m., police responded to East Sherbrooke Parkway. A homeowner said his barking dog woke him up. When he viewed his surveillance cameras, he saw that two people opened his front door but were scared off by the dog. Police believe they were looking for key fobs.

Happened Before

The trend of burglars grabbing car keys from homes in Essex County isn't new. Read more about it here: Burglar Swipes Car Keys From Livingston Home, Drives Porsche Away

Livingston also suffered a series of car burglaries on Memorial Day last year. A suspect was arrested this year in connection with the crimes. Read more about that here: Mercedes Stolen And 7 Cars Burglarized on Memorial Day