Motorcycle Stolen From Parking Lot At Englishtown Auction

MANALAPAN, NJ — Cars - and motorcycles - continue to be targeted in thefts here, police reported.

There was a high-profile car theft March 12, as reported last week in Patch. That was when someone entered a Union Hill Road home early in the morning, stole key fobs and took off with the homeowner's Mercedes Benz.

And as police were responding to that crime, they got another call from a homeowner on Country Oaks Drive who saw three masked people with a crowbar approaching the property, who then fled, according to a report from Police Chief Edward Niesz.

And in its latest weekly update on incidents in the township, the department reported on other crimes involving vehicles. All are being investigated:

• March 10: A Somerset resident, 32, told police someone stole a motorcycle, valued at approximately $14,500, while it was parked at the Englishtown Auction at 90 Wilson Ave. in Manalapan. Patrolman Anthony Cascella handled the report.
• March 7: A Manalapan resident, 33, reported that someone burglarized a motor vehicle parked at a Timber Lane residence, removing property valued at $2,345. Patrolman Christopher Schou handled the report.
• March 6: A Manalapan resident, 56, reported that a person stole two motor vehicle trailers, valued at $6,000, that were parked at a McCaffery Road residence. Patrolman Marshall Bitsko handled the report.

Niesz said last week that these sorts of incidents are not unique to Manalapan, and he again advised taking as many precautions as possible with your cars and other vehicles.

"Auto theft and associated residential burglaries to access keys and key fobs is a criminal trend affecting the entire tri-state region," Niesz said last week.

"Investigators at the federal, state, county, and local levels are working together in an attempt to identify and arrest suspects, and recover the vehicles," he said.

He reminded residents to activate any and all alarms and security systems, secure their vehicles and residence doors and windows. Remove keys and key fobs from vehicles.

Report any and all suspicious activity immediately, he said.