SUV Stolen Outside Wayne; Suspect Crashes Vehicle, Flees: Police

TOTOWA, NJ — A person stole an SUV early Wednesday morning in Totowa before crashing it and escaping on foot, police said. Authorities recovered the stolen vehicle as Passaic County authorities tried to locate the suspect.

The key fob was left inside the Chevy Traverse, allowing the suspect to open the door and drive away, police said.

A Totowa patrol officer noticed someone backing the SUV out of a Willard Avenue driveway just before 4 a.m. Wednesday. Another person in a vehicle parked on the road waited for them to leave, police said.

As the officer approached, the Chevy Traverse driver accelerated east, turned left onto Totowa Road and crossed the Glover Avenue Bridge into Woodland Park, according to authorities.

The suspect struck an unoccupied, parked vehicle in a Greenway Lane driveway in Woodland Park, police said. They ran away on foot before police arrived, and authorities couldn't locate him, according to officials. Passaic County's CSI unit went to the scene and tried finding the suspect.

The awaiting vehicle fled onto Route 80 eastbound, according to authorities.

Police recovered the stolen Chevy Traverse and told the owner about what occurred.

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