We're experiencing a rash of parked car burglaries here in South Orange. Windows aren't being smashed. No high tech device is disarming electronic security. It's not a symptom of the bad economy.
The robbed cars are simply being left unlocked overnight while parked in driveways in residential neighborhoods. As many as 90 percent of the car burglaries in South Orange involve unlocked cars.
According to Sgt. Joseph Levanda of the South Orange Police Department, unknown perpetrators are entering unlocked vehicles and stealing GPS devices and anything else that can easily be carried off, such as cash sitting in consoles, briefcases and sports equipment.
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"This is a crime of opportunity," Levanda said. "It's occurring at night, and since the cars are unlocked, it's not setting off alarms or causing damage. People are just helping themselves.
"It's important to lock your car, even in your own driveway. Better yet, set your car alarm, install motion sensor lights and/or park in a locked garage. And if you have a GPS, never leave it in your car."
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Levanda suggests that if you have the type of GPS device that attaches to the car window with suction cups, don't fail to wipe those marks away. Thieves will see the marks and figure that a unit is in the car, since most people hide their GPS units under the seat or in the glove box.
There is no other trend in these burglaries—no one make or model of car or section of town targeted. Perpetrators are just walking down a block under cover of darkness and pulling on door handles to see what's open, according to Levanda.
Most of the time the thieves get away with it. In other words, if your car has been broken into, don't expect to ever see that Garmin or Magellan GPS unit again.
And what if you happen to hear or see someone or something in your driveway in the middle of the night? Levanda said, "If you see any suspicious activity, call us. For example, if you think you might see people in your driveway, and it's in the middle of the night, call us. If you're not totally sure, call us.
"Do not delay calling, that's the wrong thing to do. Better to be embarrassed and wrong, than right and robbed.
"These things generally happen late at night; the tactic is to come quietly on foot using cover of darkness. The person is not detected because residents and neighbors are asleep."
Levanda continued: "People committing these crimes can see and hear marked patrol cars from a distance. They have plenty of time to duck out of view and conceal themselves before we get there.
"We're aware of what's happening out there but need assistance from residents. You're most likely to see or hear something in progress.
"Do not confront anyone," Levanda cautioned. "Pick up the phone and call police. If you try to handle this on your own, it probably won't end well. Either there will be a violent confrontation or you'll scare them off." He said, "Call the police and let us investigate."
Levanda said to use a landline to call the police station, if possible, since police will automatically have all information concerning your name, address, etc. But if all that you have is a cell phone, don't hesitate to use it.
If it's an emergency, call 911. Otherwise, 973-763-3000 is the correct number. Extension 0 (zero) will connect you to dispatch.
