Wallet Taken In Smash-And-Grab Car Burglary, Mahwah Police Say

MAHWAH, N.J. — Police are urging residents to not leave valuables out in plain sight after a purse was stolen out of car recently.

A 2015 Infiniti was parked in the Airmont Avenue ballfield parking lot April 24 at 9:30 a.m.; the owner returned 30 to 45 minutes later and found the car's front side window shattered, said Chief James Batelli.

A designer wallet containing money and several credit and gift cards was stolen, Batelli said. A purse was moved inside the vehicle, but nothing was taken from it and the glove compartment was ajar, police said.

Police spoke to several people in the area who said they did not observe nor hear anything or anyone suspicious in the area, Batelli said.

Latent fingerprints were taken from the scene, police said, and the incident remains under investigation.

Investigators believe this incident is linked to a series of smash-and-grab burglaries in Nanuet, New York and Woodcliff Lakes and are working with authorities in those jurisdictions, Batelli said.

Anyone with information should call the department at 201-529-1000.

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