Stolen Car Crash Prompted Rutgers Police To Issue Public Safety Alert

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ —A car that had previously been stolen out of Highland Park got into a car crash Thursday afternoon in Piscataway, prompting both Piscataway and Rutgers police departments to issue a public warning about a possible armed suspect in the area.

However, the suspect was never located by police.

The car had been stolen from Highland Park on May 2, said Capt. Jose Curbelo of the Highland Park Police Department.

The car (police did not release a make or model) had been stolen sometime during the night between May 1 and May 2.

The stolen car then got into a traffic accident at 3:30 Thursday afternoon in the area of Metlars Lane near Suttons Lane in Piscataway, and the driver fled the scene. Piscataway Police initially feared the suspect was armed, so they and Rutgers campus police released warnings telling the public to avoid the area.

"Police are in the area of Hospital Road and Metlars Lane on the Livingston campus, searching for possible armed subject," Rutgers campus police posted in an emergency alert on Facebook. "Avoid the area."

Highland Park Police responded to recover the stolen car. There were no injuries.

This comes at a time when car thefts are skyrocketing across New Jersey, and the Attorney General just this month changed his policy and now allows police to pursue stolen cars. Read: As NJ Car Thefts Surge, State Revises Policy To Allow Police Pursuit

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