24 Hours, 9 Thefts. Cops Say Lock Those Cars

Lock your cars already, people.

That's the message from Morris Township Police, who say there have been nine reports of thefts from unlocked parked cars in the last 24 hours in Morris Township.

"They're happening all over, Ketch Road, Canfield Road–which is on the other side of the Township–and then Western Avenue in the middle," Captain Rich Ferrone of the  said.

Ferrone said the items stolen were "the usual: GPS units, iPods, wallets, cash." 

Similar incidents have occurred repeatedly over the last few months in Morris Township and the surrounding communities. In mid-May, Patch reported on that occurred over a two-day period in the township. Among the items reported stolen were GPS equipment, credit cards and a wallet. 

Less than a week later, Patch reported on , where Detective Jason Kohn of the  told us, "I think we've had eight over the last week."

On May 30, who was allegedly traveling by bicycle in the early morning hours, carrying a laptop and several GPS units believed stolen from unlocked cars in the area, when he was arrested by Morris Township police. 

Just last week, Madison Patch reported that raising the total to more than 30 incidents in the municipality since May 1. Most of the cars were unlocked, police said.

The pattern of the thefts in Morris Township and surrounding communities has presented something of a mystery, Ferrone said. While some incidents have proven to be related, many of the thefts may be individual "crimes of opportunity." 

In other words, the equation is this:

unscrupulous person travelling down your street + your unlocked car = missing valuables.

As Ferrone said in June, "The economy isn't good and unlocked cars are seen as an easy target."

Residents who see or hear any suspicious activity are asked to contact the Morris Township Police Department as soon as possible at 973-539-0777. Get updates and alerts from the Morris Township Police, now on Twitter at @MorrisTwpPD.