3 Stolen Luxury Cars Found, 1 Arrest Made: Warren Police

WARREN, NJ — Warren Police have found the three luxury vehicles that were stolen while parked in the driveways of township homes last weekend and an arrest was made in connection with the thefts, police report.

A 2018 Mercedes Benz E300, a 2017 Mercedes Benz GLE and a 2019 Mercedes Benz GLS450 were all reported stolen on Jan. 19 from Softwood Way and Casale Drive. Two of the cars were later found in Newark and the other in Irvington, Warren Police Lt. Paul Dziedzic said.

All three of the vehicles were recovered by the New Jersey State Police Motor Vehicle Crimes North Unit - Auto Theft Task Force which is comprised of members from Warren Township, Bernard's Township, and police officers from Essex, Bergen, and Morris counties.

A man from Newark was arrested in connection with the thefts and charged with receiving stolen property, possession of crack cocaine and resisting by flight, Dziedzic said.

Police are continuing to investigate the thefts.

Additionally the Warren Police is offering tips for residents to avoid becoming a victim of motor vehicle theft and/or burglary:

• Ensure that you always lock your vehicle whether it's parked on your street, in your driveway/garage, out shopping, or at your local gym. Most of the time a would-be thief will move on to the next vehicle when encountering a locked vehicle as opposed to breaking into it and drawing attention.
• Make sure your residence/business is well lit during the evening and overnight hours. Thieves typically look for darker areas to commit these burglaries for less visibility by passing motorists, neighbors and police. Also make sure if you have exterior cameras that they are operational and free from obstruction.
• Do not leave spare keys or anything of value in your vehicle. Purses/wallets, electronics (iPods/iPads, laptops, GPS Units etc), vehicle valet keys, designer sunglasses, credit cards, cash and cell phones should never be left inside your vehicle, especially in plain view. If you must leave such items in your vehicle, we recommend you conceal and/or secure them properly, however we urge you not to leave them in the vehicle.
• Additionally, everyone should be aware that these vehicle burglaries often lead to other crimes such as fraud and identity theft. We suggest you limit the amount of personal information you keep in your vehicle as well as keep a record of all the serial numbers for your valuables and store it in a safe place in your home.

"While we know nothing is 100 percent full proof, we feel that by taking the precautions we've suggested you can seriously reduce the chance of being a victim of these types of crimes," Warren Police stated. "If you see any suspicious persons or activities in your neighborhood, call 9-1-1 immediately. Criminals thrive on opportunity, do not give them one."

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