Mercedes Benz Stolen From Manalapan Driveway Nov. 24

MANALAPAN, NJ — There was another car stolen from a Manalapan driveway, and this theft happened the Friday after Thanksgiving. The car was recovered that same day in Newark.

A resident on Towne Drive in Manalapan told police that his 2016 Mercedes Benz E350 was stolen from his driveway sometime during the overnight hours of Friday, Nov. 24 at 8:30 p.m. and Saturday afternoon, Nov. 25 at 2 p.m. In this case, the Mercedes was locked and the keys were accounted for by the owner. The car was recovered at 10 p.m. Saturday night in Newark by the Newark Police Department.

Manalapan, like many towns in wealthy, suburban Monmouth County, continues to be a target for car thieves: On Oct. 29, a 2017 Ford Escape was stolen out of a driveway on Timber Lane in Manalapan. The SUV had been left unlocked and the key fob inside the vehicle.

This comes after an unlocked Jeep Grand Cherokee was stolen from a home on Indian Creek Road in Holmdel Friday night, Oct. 27. That SUV had also been left unlocked with the key fobs sitting inside. That was 12th unlocked car stolen out of a Holmdel driveway in 2017.

As Patch reported, up to eight suburban towns have been hit by car thieves this September and October, including Middletown, Holmdel, Colts Neck, Spring Lake and Manalapan. The cars being stolen are all high-end, luxury vehicles, such as BMWs, Mercedes, Range Rovers and Audis. The stolen cars are usually taken to the Elizabeth container port, and from there shipped to West Africa.

The stolen cars are often recovered in Newark.

Having the key fob is critical to their resale value, law enforcement experts say. Related: 8 Suburban NJ Towns Targeted In Luxury Car Thefts