No Fob? No Prob: Theives Are Grabbing Car Keys From Inside Essex County Homes

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — As North Jersey law enforcement officers continue to remind people not to leave their key fobs in their cars or leave cars unlocked, thieves have been easily boosting the cars anyway — by getting into homes around Essex County, including in Livingston and Millburn, and swiping the car keys from the counter.

The Millburn police said that on May 13, at 8:30 a.m., Millburn Police Officer Kelly responded to a Shelly Road residence for a report of a theft of an Audi S4 from a garage. Someone was able to gain entry to the kitchen and take the car keys off the counter, then stole the Audi, police said.

Two days later, at 05:27 a.m., Millburn Police Officer Frisch responded to a Fairfield Drive residence for a report of motor vehicle theft. The investigation revealed that a burglary to the home occurred earlier that morning, police said. Someone gained entry to a vehicle in the driveway, and found a garage door opener in it. Then, they entered the home, got keys to the person's two vehicles, and stole both a 2020 BMW 300i and a 2017 Porsche 911 from the garage. The vehicles were later recovered in Newark.

A similar situation occurred in Livingston two weeks ago, in which a thief stole keys from inside a residence. Then, the thief used them to steal the Mercedes Benz G63.

The homeowners told police on May 16 that they awoke that morning to find the front door of their home wide open. The Mercedes Benz G63 was missing from the garage, police said.

The incidents remain under investigation by the police.