Car Thief Leads South Brunswick Cops On Chase, Crashes Vehicle

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ – The South Brunswick Police Department is looking for a suspect who stole a car, led the cops on a chase across towns before crashing the vehicle.

At 1 a.m. Tuesday morning, a resident from East Garden Apartments called the police reporting that someone had just stolen their 2021 Toyota Rav4, Deputy Chief James Ryan said.

The victim told police that on Monday night they noticed someone had entered their unlocked car and taken items including a key for the vehicle, police said.

Minutes after receiving the complaint, Officers Brian Kim and Tyler Harpster saw the SUV on Route 27 near Finnegans Lane.

Officers activated their emergency lights and followed the driver, as he drove one block, turned off his headlights, and turned onto a dead-end side street, said Ryan.

The driver crashed into a guardrail at the end of the street and fled the scene, said Ryan.

North Brunswick Police as well as New Jersey State Police K-9 and aviation assisted in searching for the suspect, but he was not located, Ryan said.

“There appears to be an increase in stolen motor vehicles in the overnight hours over the past three weeks. Drivers are reminded to lock their vehicles and not to leave key fabs in your unsecured vehicles,” Ryan said in an email statement.

South Brunswick Police continue to investigate the incident. Anyone with information can call 732-329-4646.

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