Glen Rock PD: Car Burglaries, Vehicle Theft Reported

GLEN ROCK, NJ – After several unlocked cars were broken into and a vehicle was stolen from a resident’s driveway, Glen Rock police are urging the public to remember to “Lock It or Lose It.”

Like several other Bergen County communities, Glen Rock police has fielded reports over the last few months of unlocked vehicles being targeted by car burglars and thieves.

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Following additional incidents over the past week, Police Chief Dean Ackermann asked residents to remember “there is no community where it is safe enough to leave your vehicle, home, shed or garage unlocked, let alone leave your key or key fob in a vehicle.”

“Protect yourself and remember this phrase, ‘Lock it or Lose It,’” he said. “Please protect your hard-earned valuables. Each night make it a practice to double check that your vehicle, home, garage and shed have been locked.”

The most recent incident occurred early Friday morning, when officers were dispatched to an Abbington Terrace home on a report of an attempted burglary, he said.

While searching the area for a suspect, Officer John Tarantino was passed by a Subaru wagon that was traveling at a high rate of speed, the chief said. Though Tarantino attempted to initiate a traffic stop, the driver continued to flee onto Harristown Road, the chief said.

Further investigation determined the car was stolen from a Gramercy Place home and the owner had left the keys inside of it.

A pursuit continued into Paramus, then back to Fair Lawn, into Elmwood Park on Broadway and towards Paterson, where it ended, Ackermann said.

When Paterson police recovered the vehicle on Saturday morning, all of the owner’s personal property was missing, he said. The car reportedly had over $1,000 worth of property, including a set of golf clubs, that was taken.

“The Detective Bureau is continuing the investigation in cooperation with other jurisdictions in the region who have been experiencing similar crimes,” he said.

Ackermann said police found a mountain bike near the home where the Subaru was stolen and discovered that several vehicles, as well as garages, in the area of Hamilton Avenue, Abbington Terrace and Gramercy Place showed signs that someone rummaged through them, Ackermann said.

Authorities also received two car burglary reports this week.

Officers responded to a Doremus Avenue home on Sept. 5 at 11:53 a.m. on a report that an unlocked car had been broken into and rummaged through, however the resident reported nothing was missing, Ackerman said.

On Saturday at 10:44 a.m., police were called to a Waldron Avenue home after a resident reported that their unlocked car was entered overnight while parked in the driveway and a phone charged was stolen, the chief said.