Woman Catches Intruder In Car In Bergen County, Prompting Police Warning

OAKLAND, NJ — After a Bergen County woman spotted a stranger in her car early Saturday morning, local police issued a reminder to the public.

Police in Oakland said that just after 12:30 a.m. on Saturday morning, a woman saw an unknown man inside her vehicle on Manito Avenue.

When the man was confronted, he fled to Iroquois Avenue, police said.

Officer Ed McDermott quickly arrived, followed by Sgt. Jonathan Coleman and officers Jacquelyn Jensen and Nicholas Maricich.

They requested a Bergen County Sheriff’s Department K-9. The Franklin Lakes Police Department also arrived to assist.

Coleman spotted a man matching the suspect's description on Pawnee Avenue, police said.

Police arrested Peter Engel, 38, whose last known address was in New York, they said.

He was charged with four counts of third-degree burglary and a count of theft. There were also three warrants for him, police said. He was taken to the Bergen County Jail.

Police said in a message Saturday, "This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of staying vigilant and always locking your car doors. Even a few moments of opportunity can be enough for a crime to occur, and taking simple precautions like securing your vehicle can prevent potential thefts or burglaries."

They also asked any other residents who were the victims of a burglary that morning to contact police in order to file a report.