Two Teens In Ski Masks Charged With Car Burglary In Westfield

WESTFIELD, NJ — As Westfield continues its efforts to cut down on car theft, two teens in ski masks were arrested after they were seen tugging on car doors last week, the mayor said.

Last Wednesday, the Westfield police received calls late at night that people in a white Mercedes Benz were pulling on door handles of vehicles.

Mayor Shelley Brindle said in her weekly newsletter, citing information from police, that callers told police the two occupants were wearing ski masks.

According to officials, the two teens were spotted first on Barchester Way around 9:43 p.m. last Wednesday, then on West Dudley Avenue approximately a half hour later. Police were also told that two people in the car were wearing ski masks.

Police located and stopped a 2020 Mercedes Benz GLE at West Dudley Avenue near Tuttle Parkway.

Police apprehended a 17-year-old girl from Plainfield who'd been driving, and a 16-year-old boy from Newark.

The teen boy was charged with two counts of burglary, one count of theft, and one count of criminal attempt-burglary. The girl from Plainfield was charged with three counts of burglary and one count of criminal attempt-burglary (third degree crime).

Similar Crime, Different Day

Police said that the previous day, a resident of Willow Grove Road spotted, on a Ring camera, a man with a hooded sweatshirt over his head trying to get into two cars in the resident's driveway around 5 a.m. Both cars were locked and the person couldn't get in.

Police have encouraged residents to call them to report suspicious behavior, and they have reported people and cars lurking in various neighborhoods. READ MORE: Westfield Residents Report 'Suspicious' People, Vehicles

Brindle said that no vehicles were reported stolen last week, but 19 cars have been stolen in 2021 in Westfield, 17 of them recovered. Chief Battiloro said 90 percent of them were left unlocked with their key fobs in them, she said.

Coming Up From Down The Shore

"Chief Battiloro advises that, with many people returning from vacation and summer residences, he anticipates there will be a noticeable shift in vehicle burglary and theft activity from Jersey Shore communities in Monmouth and Ocean counties back towards Union County and towns like Westfield," Brindle said.

Other nearby towns are grappling with car thefts and burglaries as well, including Summit, which saw more than five cars stolen in August, including a Porsche 911. READ MORE: Thief Steals Rims And Tires Worth $6K From Car: Summit Police

Recent Westfield And Union County Police Stories:

• Teen Arrested Twice For Westfield Car Thefts
• You Can't Be Nude By The Rahway River
• Theives Swipe $7K From Porsche In Westfield
• Cranford Police Issue Warning About Rise In Burglaries
• Teen Arrested Twice For Westfield Car Thefts
• Westfield Residents Report 'Suspicious' People, Vehicles
• Summit Car Thefts For July
• Cars Are Being Stolen At Union County Country Clubs
• 3 Police Are Injured As Westfield Teen Is Charged In Car Thefts
• Running Mercedes With Top Down Is Swiped At Mountainside 7-11
• One Car, Two Bikes Reported Stolen In Westfield

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