Police: Unlocked Cars Make Easy Targets for Thieves

Residents are being reminded to keep their cars locked at night after two attempted thefts were reported in the borough Wednesday, officials said.

Police believe thieves in both incidents rummaged through the glove compartment looking for a valet key.

A resident of Rosemont Court reported at 8 a.m. that someone had gone through her 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, which had been left unlocked in the driveway. She told police she found the glove box open and items missing.

Police later found the registration and owner's manual for the vehicle discarded several hundred feet away at the intersection of Hamilton Drive East.

At 8:50 a.m. Wednesday, a resident of Squire Hill Road reported items missing from the glove compartment of a 2010 Land Rover, which had been left unlocked overnight. The registration, owner’s manual and insurance card were discovered on Tanglewood Road.

“People are leaving their cars unlocked or they are leaving them unlocked and running in their driveways,” North Caldwell Chief Mark Deuer said. “There’s this group of people out there trying to take them.”

Deuer added, “Besides locking your cars, if you are up early in the morning, just be on the lookout for suspicious vehicles and report them to police.” 

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