Car Crimes In Montclair: Suspicious Sedan, Stolen Vehicle, Soft-Top Burglary

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Several car-related crimes were reported in Montclair last week, including multiple suspicious incidents involving a dark-colored sedan, a stolen vehicle and a burglary involving a “soft top,” authorities announced Tuesday.

The Montclair Police Department released the following details about each incident:

August 17 (Grant Street) – A driver told officers that she was sitting in her 2021 Jeep Cherokee in a parking lot on Grant Street, when a dark-colored sedan pulled up next to her vehicle. Two men got out of the rear of the sedan and approached her car, then tried to enter her Jeep. The woman yelled and both men retreated to the sedan. They were last seen fleeing towards Sherman Street. Both suspects were described as juvenile males wearing black ski masks. The suspect who attempted to open her vehicle door was wearing a red sweatshirt with the hood pulled up, police said.

August 17 (Oxford Street) – Residents reported seeing a red sedan travelling slowly up Oxford Street. The occupants were seen exiting and approaching several other vehicles in different driveways and attempting to open the doors. Officers canvassing the area located two vehicles that appeared to have been entered. Stolen proceeds at this time were limited to cash, police said.

August 18 (Pine Street) – A vehicle owner told police that he parked his vehicle on the third level of the Bay Street Parking Deck for the day. When he returned, he discovered that it had been broken into. Surveillance footage shows a suspect wearing a black, hooded sweatshirt, black shorts, black shoes and gloves approach the car. The suspect then cuts a hole into the vehicle’s soft top, mounts the car and reaches into the vehicle to unlock it, police said.

August 18 (Hawthorne Place) – A vehicle owner told officers that he returning to his vehicle parked on Hawthorne Place and found the rear hatch and front passenger side door were open. Several items were removed and placed on the grass beside his vehicle. While taking the initial report, the reporting officer was approached by three additional victims, each reporting that their vehicles were also burglarized, police said.

August 18 (Orange Road) – Four people were seen exiting a dark-colored sedan and entering an Orange Road parking lot. They were observed entering a 2015 Audi and a 2013 Honda. Both vehicles were rummaged through, but nothing was reported missing, police said.

August 19 (North Fullerton Avenue) – A resident reported that his 2020 Audi Q3 was stolen from in front of his home during the overnight hours. An EZ Pass activation alerted him that his vehicle entered the Garden State Parkway just after 3 a.m., police said.

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