Hazlet Police Warn Car Thefts May Be On The Rise After Incident

HAZLET, NJ — It looks like the high-end car theft epidemic may have come to Hazlet, police here say.

Police reported that last Wednesday night, thieves pried open a window of a home near the post office on Hazlet Avenue, entered the residence and stole a key fob.

They then drove away with the resident’s high-end car that was even blocked in by another car in the driveway.

"This resident had taken several precautions and was still victimized," police said in a social media post.

The stolen car was blocked in the driveway by another vehicle. The car doors were locked. The owners brought the keys in the house. And they locked their windows.

But the car was still stolen.

"Unfortunately these thieves have become more extraordinarily brazen," police said.

Police noted that, until recently, Hazlet for the most part has been able to skirt the stolen high-end car epidemic that has plagued many municipalities throughout the state, such as Holmdel, Marlboro and Manalapan.

The department said things may be changing, as the township is experiencing recent attempted thefts and successful thefts within its borders "on a larger scale."

For example, a few days ago, two residents in Raritan Valley reported that people entered their backyards and attempted to pry one resident's window open, but the interlopers were unsuccessful.

Police are asking residents to continue to be vigilant and continue to make sure cars and homes are secure.

While most all of these types of crimes affect owners of high-end cars, police ask that everyone take these universal precautions. Thieves will take any make or model car when the opportunity arises, police said.

Here are some additional preventative measures you can take to help deter car thefts:

• Add motion activated lighting to the sides and rear of your residence.
• Make sure that any windows that are accessible to the ground level are thoroughly secure and will withstand prying attempts.
• Make sure that side garage access doors are secure and doors leading from the garage into the home are always secure.
• Routinely secure the lock for the access gate entering your backyard. If you do not have one, one should be installed.
• If you hear noises or suspect something isn’t right, at any time, call the police so they can respond.