Possible 'Smash-And-Grab' Leads Ridgewood Police To Issue Reminder

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — An arrest last week of a woman who Ridgewood police believe may have been involved in theft from a motor vehicle led the department to remind residents on social media to lock their vehicles and keep valuables out of sight.

"If people would stop leaving their keys and valuables in their cars, we would not have as many stolen vehicles," Police Chief Jacqueline Luthcke said, referring to a statewide increase in auto thefts from last year.

At Graydon Pool last week, Ridgewood police responded to a suspicious vehicle that was illegally parked, and arrested a woman in possession of stolen credit cards, Luthcke said.

In a Facebook post on Friday, the department posted a photo of the arrest and said it continues to see smash-and-grab style thefts, which it added are "preventable."

"Thefts of cars with key fobs in them have slowed but continue," the post said.

Parking lots at Graydon and other public spaces are "easy targets" for these opportunistic crimes, the department said, as people will leave their valuables in the car while enjoying the outdoors.

"Please keep your valuables out of sight, even in a locked vehicle, and call us if you see something suspicious," the department added.