Car-Theft Network In Burlington Co. Under Investigation: Police

LUMBERTON, NJ — A Burlington County police department investigating a string of attempted vehicle thefts warns that groups are accessing cars through sophisticated methods.

Several people and vehicles traveled through the Powell's Mills community in Lumberton early Monday morning. They were driving at least two cars that had been stolen while searching for additional vehicles to take, police said.

Officers tried to stop them, but the suspects were last seen entering Philadelphia, said Lumberton Police Chief Anthony D. Nippins.

"Many of these incidents are crimes of opportunity, with perpetrators targeting unlocked vehicles or those with keys left inside," Nippins said.

As car technology transforms, thieves have upgraded their tactics to access vehicles, police said. One of these methods is key fob signal amplification, when thieves use a device to relay a key fob's signal to open a car even if the keys aren't inside the vehicle.

There are a few ways to combat key fob amplification, according to WikiHow:

• Wrap your fob in aluminum foil when you're not using it.
• Turn off your fob's signal when you're not using it, if possible.
• Store your keys in a signal-blocking pouch.

Lumberton police also recommend the following:

• Lock your vehicle, and take your keys or fob inside.
• Never leave your car running unattended, even for a short time.
• Use a steering wheel lock or another anti-theft device as a deterrent.
• Park in well-lit areas or garages when possible.
• Immediately report any suspicious activity to police.

Monday's incident in Lumberton remains under investigation, and local authorities are working with state law enforcement to identify and arrest the suspects.

The suspects' vehicles are believed to be a 2022 black Honda Accord, a gold Cadillac Escalade, a silver Lexus and an unknown black sedan with silver wheels and no tinted windows.

Anyone with information or surveillance footage related to the incident can contact Lumberton police.