8 Cars Now Stolen In Monmouth County; Latest In Colts Neck July 2

COLTS NECK, NJ — There have now been at least eight reported incidents of cars being stolen in Monmouth County this past June. The latest theft occurred in Colts Neck sometime overnight Sunday into Monday, July 2.

A resident of Deerpath Lane in Colts Neck reported their black 2012 Mercedes Benz S55 was stolen from their driveway between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. on July 2. Like so many of the other car thefts, the Mercedes had been left unlocked and the keys left inside vehicle.

This is now at least the eighth car stolen from a Monmouth County town in the past month, including an incident where a 2017 Infinity QX6 was stolen at gunpoint in Long Branch on June 27.

Wealthy Monmouth County towns such as Rumson, Colts Neck and Holmdel appear to be targeted, and all the cars were parked unlocked in driveways when they were taken. Patch has been keeping a tally of the crime spree so far:

Colts Neck, overnight on July 1 into July 2: Mercedes Benz S55 stolen from a Deerpath Lane driveway. The luxury car was left unlocked, with the keys inside.

Long Branch, June 27: At 9 p.m. that night, a man approached the car owner in his driveway on Norwood Avenue in Long Branch and asked for directions. The car, a 2017 Infinity QX6, had been running in the driveway. The suspect then lifted his sweatshirt and displayed the gun. When the victim backed away, the suspect took the car. It was later recovered in a crash in Ocean Township.

Holmdel, overnight June 21 into June 22: A BMW was stolen from where it was parked on Lori Lane.

Rumson, June 22: Two cars were stolen from Rumson driveways overnight Friday, June 22, Rumson police said. Both cars were parked in the driveway of the homes and had been left unlocked with a key fob inside.

Colts Neck, June 11 through June 12: Three cars in total were stolen over that period, including a Range Rover and an Audi. One car was stolen from Freemont Lane and two from North Point Drive in Colts Neck. One of the cars was recovered in Marlboro Two. All had been left unlocked and parked in driveways, with the key fob inside.

A fourth incident occurred where a Sterling Ridge resident said they heard strange sounds around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 13. Police say it was a possible attempted fourth auto theft, but the suspect was scared away by homeowner.

Photo credit: romul014/Shutterstock.com