NJ Car Theft Caught On Video: ‘It Happens Quickly,’ Cops Warn

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Car thefts can happen in the blink of an eye. And the proof is on video, police say.

A car was stolen Tuesday in Verona around 12:40 p.m. outside a business on Bloomfield Avenue, police said.

According to the Verona Police Department, the car’s owner left it unattended with the key fob inside for about 30 seconds.

“That’s all it takes,” police underscored on a social media post, sharing surveillance video taken at the scene.

In the footage, the victim's car is left parked alongside a meter with its blinkers flashing. Another car soon pulls up alongside it in the right lane of the road and stops. A person gets out of the passenger side of the vehicle and hops into the driver’s seat of the victim’s car. Both cars then pull away from the curb and drive off … with the victim desperately running after them.

Verona police said motor vehicle thefts are up 31 percent across the state. Many are used to commit other crimes, authorities said.

Police Chief Christopher Kiernan told Patch that as of Wednesday, the vehicle hasn’t been recovered.

“We urge residents to lock your cars and of course never leave your [key] fobs in your vehicles,” Kiernan said. “As you can see, it happens quickly.”

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