String Of Car Thefts, Attempted Break-Ins Seen In Montclair: PD

MONTCLAIR, NJ — A string of car-related incidents, including multiple thefts, recently took place in Montclair, police say.

According to the Montclair Police Department, a car thief fled a vehicle last week after finding an 11-year-old child inside, but returned and stole it after the youth went inside a nearby store to tell his mother what happened. Read More: Car Thief Returns After Finding Child In Vehicle, Montclair Police Say

That wasn’t the only car-related incident that Montclair police investigated last week, however. Authorities said the following incidents were recently reported in the township.

Feb. 9 (Union Street) - A resident reported that she saw an unknown man walk across her front yard and enter her parked 2017 Mercedes SUV. The suspect opened the door and sat in the driver’s seat. The resident yelled out to the suspect, who replied, “Don’t leave your car unlocked.” The suspect then returned to an awaiting silver sedan with tinted windows and fled east on Union Street.

Feb. 9 (Bloomfield Avenue) - A victim reported that she parked her 2021 BMW X5 on Bloomfield Avenue and entered a nearby business. While inside the business, the victim saw someone driving her vehicle away from the area, west on Bloomfield Avenue. The vehicle was recovered the next day in West Long Branch.

Feb. 11 (Upper Mountain Avenue) - A resident reported seeing four unknown people entering one of the vehicles in the driveway. The victim said he was working in his first- floor office and saw several juveniles enter his wife’s unlocked vehicle, then attempt to enter his locked car. The resident yelled at the juveniles, who ran to a dark-colored sedan, which fled northbound. The suspects were described as four males from 15 to 18-years-old.

Feb. 11 (Bellevue Avenue) - A victim reported that his 2020 BMW X5 was stolen from the Bellevue Avenue Train Station lot. A witness reported that he observed a black, four-door vehicle – occupied by four men – slowly circle the parking lot before stopping at the west side of the lot. Two people exited the circling vehicle, then entered the victim’s BMW. After starting the vehicle, they fled the area, heading west on Bellevue Avenue. All four people were described as males in their late teens or early twenties.

Feb. 12 (Glenridge Avenue) - A victim reported that he parked his 2021 BMW X5 on Baldwin Street. A witness reported that while the owner was inside a store, she saw a white BMW pull up alongside the victim’s vehicle. A man exited the white BMW, then entered the victim’s car and began rummaging through it. The man then returned to the white BMW and fled west on Glenridge Avenue. Police later learned that the white BMW was reported stolen out of North Arlington.

Feb. 14 (Mount Vernon Road) - A resident reported that his home surveillance system showed an unknown person approach his 2021 Jeep Cherokee at 4:30 a.m. The doors to the vehicle were locked. The suspect returned to an awaiting vehicle and fled west on Mount Vernon Road.

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