Thief Steals Car Keys From Livingston Home, Then Takes Car, Police Say

LIVINGSTON, NJ — The Livingston police reported that two vehicles were stolen in the middle of this month, including one after a burglar broke into the house.

Police said that on Oct. 15, at 10:38 a.m., they responded to an East Mount Pleasant Avenue home on a report of a burglary.

The victim said someone kicked in the rear door of the home and stole the keys to their BMW. Then, the person stole the car from the residence.

The BMW was recovered the same day in Newark. The Livingston Detective Bureau is investigating.

The next day, on Oct. 16 at 7 a.m., the State Police told the Livingston police that they had discovered a Ford Mustang that had crashed on Route 280.

They found that the car belonged to a resident of Tanglewood Drive. The Tanglewood Drive resident confirmed that someone had stolen the car from their driveway.

Other Break-Ins

Also on on Oct. 16, police responded to a report of a "suspicious person" walking near Scarsdale Drive. Police found and arrested Jaquan Bankston, 18, of Newark, who they said had tried to get into a vehicle on that street. At police headquarters, Bankston was charged with hindering apprehension and attempted burglary to a vehicle. He was taken to the Essex County Jail.

On Oct. 20, at 10:35 pm Livingston officers responded to a Canterbury Road residence on a report of a burglary. The homeowner told police that the rear door to the residence had been forced open while the person was out for the evening, police said. The homeowner is compiling a list of stolen items, police said.