2 Bike Thefts, Car Burglary In Princeton This Week: Police

PRINCETON, NJ — Two bicycle thefts and a car burglary were reported in Princeton over a 12-hour period Sunday night into Monday morning, according to the Princeton Police Department.

A green 21” Scout bicycle worth about $450 was stolen from in front of Starbucks on the 100 block of Nassau Street at about 8:50 p.m. on Sunday night, Oct. 15. The thief, described to police only as an “unidentified male” wearing a dark shirt, was last seen heading east on Nassau Street.

The following morning, it was reported that sometime between 9 p.m. on Sunday night and 9 a.m. Monday morning, a black Cube brand bicycle (men's mountain bike) worth about $800 was stolen from the rear patio of a home on the 100 block of Stanworth Lane. The bike wasn’t secured at the time it was stolen.

Additionally, $930 in cash was stolen from a car that was parked in front of a home on the 200 block of Stanworth Lane sometime overnight Sunday into Monday. There were no signs of forced entry, and the victim couldn’t remember if he had locked his doors.

The following are some tips to help reduce the risk of becoming a victim of car burglaries:

Lock your doors

While this may sound like common sense, most motor vehicle burglaries occur to unlocked vehicles. Even if your vehicle is parked in your driveway, lock it up.

Keep it tidy

Any personal items that are visible from the outside, even an empty shopping bag, could be seen as a valuable or a carrier of valuables.

Conceal all of your Property

Don't leave any bait out for thieves; put your electronics and accessories well out of sight. Better yet, bring it in with you. The evidence alone might be enough to get the interest of thieves, so hide that too, including power plugs, telltale iPod adapters, or nav-system windshield suction-cup mounts, and even put the cigarette lighter back in place.

Completely close windows and sunroofs

No, it's not just because thieves might reach in through the gap and open your locks with a coat hanger. Open windows will disable the pressure sensor in some car alarms, leaving the vehicle more vulnerable to break-in and potentially giving thieves more time before the alarm sounds.

Park for visibility

Park in a busy, well-lit area, and avoid concealment from larger vehicles, fences, or foliage. Except for the most brazen thieves, the greater the chances are that someone might see a crime in progress, the lower the chances are that the potential thief will attempt it.

Anyone who sees any suspicious activity should call the Princeton Police Department at 609-921-2100.

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