3 Police Car Chases In 1 Day In Essex County: Cops

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — It was a busy morning for police in several Essex County towns on Thursday.

According to the Cedar Grove Police Department, three separate car chases took place on the morning of May 16. The chases involved I-280, Route 23 and the towns of Cedar Grove, Verona, West Orange, North Caldwell, Orange and Montclair.

"We have no evidence that these incidents are connected, but it is unusual to have so many in a narrow time period, so we are considering it," Cedar Grove Police Chief Joseph Cirasa said.

CAR BURGLARY LEADS TO CHASE

The first chase began around 3:30 a.m. when a resident on Highfield Lane in Cedar Grove allegedly found someone searching through his Dodge Ram truck, which was parked in his driveway, police said.

The resident saw multiple suspects continue down the street, where they illegally entered his neighbor’s car. They then sped away from the scene in a silver Lincoln SUV south on Ridge Road, police said.

As Cedar Grove police responded to the scene, authorities also sent a broadcast about the incident to their peers in several surrounding towns. Soon afterwards, police in Verona found the SUV in their town and picked up the chase, authorities said.

The pursuit continued onto Prospect Avenue toward West Orange. Officers eventually lost the vehicle as it approached I-280, authorities said.

RANGE ROVER STOLEN, CHASE ON RT. 23

A second, unrelated chase took place around 4 a.m. after a Range Rover was stolen on Birch Avenue in North Caldwell, police said.

North Caldwell police broadcast a description of the incident to surrounding towns. A Cedar Grove police officer soon located the stolen Range Rover – along with a black Mercedes Benz suspected of being involved in the theft – traveling southbound on Route 23 at a high rate of speed, authorities said.

The Cedar Grove officer and a Verona police vehicle began pursuing the suspects, following them onto Prospect Avenue into West Orange. Officers last saw the Range Rover and Mercedes Benz approaching the entrances to I-280, authorities said.

KEYS AND FOBS: ‘PREVENTION IS CRUCIAL’

A short time after the second chase, Verona police were involved in a third vehicle pursuit, chasing a suspected stolen vehicle into Montclair. That car was last seen on Harrison Street going toward Orange, police said.

No additional information was immediately available about that incident.

On Friday, Cedar Grove Police Chief Joseph Cirasa issued the following statement about the three police chases:

“I cannot overstate the importance of removing your keys and key fobs from your cars. The vast majority, if not all of these vehicles, with the exception of carjacked vehicles, are being stolen due to the keys or key fobs being left inside the cars. Prevention is crucial, and the only way to reduce these incidents, the secondary crimes and dangerous pursuits. Eliminate the opportunities. Do not leave valuables in your car. Most importantly, do not confront the actors. Call police immediately, continue to observe and provide updated information to the call taker.”

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