Grandmother Drove Getaway Car For Grandson: Report

A Montville grandmother drove the getaway car after her 18-year-old grandson allegedly stole $4,000 wroth of property from a Rolling Ridge Drive home, police said.

A neighbor of the home being burglarized called authorities at 12:54 p.m. Monday and provided a detailed description of the white Chevrolet, including a license plate number, and its occupants, The Daily Record reported.

Officer Matt Scherr spotted the vehicle on Green Pond Road and stopped it while the homeowner told responding police officers what was taken from the house, the report states. About $4,000 worth of items were allegedly stolen.

Police at the traffic stop found the missing property inside the car, along with suspected heroin and a hypodermic needle, The Daily Record said.

A passenger in the car, Melanie Coviello, 24, had a key to the Realtor lockbox outside the house and, which allowed her to enter the residence without using force, police said. She allegedly entered the home with Timothy Buniak, 18, and took the property.

Buniak’s grandmother, Vera Buniak, 78, was charged with possession of stolen property and released. Her grandson and Coviello were charged with burglary, theft, possession of stolen property, and drug violations, NBC Philadelphia reported.

Police said that Vera Buniak was charged “as part of the process,” despite her potentially not knowing that a crime was committed.

Both Timothy Buniak and Coviello were held in the Morris County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail each, The Daily Record reported.