8 Men Attempt Car Break-Ins Last Week In Scotch Plains: Police

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ — Scotch Plains Police Department is investigating an incident Friday where eight men attempted to break into cars near Raritan Road.

According to the Scotch Plains police blotter, following the report of multiple car break-in attempts, officers located a minor male suspect on Raritan Road upon arrival and took him into custody.

While officers were speaking with the suspect, a witness drove by and identified him as one of the suspects, at which time he attempted to flee from the officers, police said.

Officers then took him into protective custody and he was transported to headquarters.

Scotch Plains Police also found a 2015 Audi Q7 on Jason Ct. with front-end damage. The car was reported stolen out of Woodbridge and was towed from the scene, police said.

The minor suspect was later released into the custody of his father, police said.

The number of car thefts have increased in the past few weeks in other Union County towns, as well, including Summit and Westfield.

Read more: Car Thefts On The Rise In Westfield, Police Chief Says

Additionally, on Thursday, July 7, a resident on Alton Way saw to men stealing their 2022 BMW X5, according to the police blotter.

Police said the residents began screaming, and a neighbor confronted the suspects as they drove the car up the street. The suspects then fled from the vehicle and entered a red sedan, which was also on the street, police said.

The men then fled the area heading west on Raritan Road, according to police. Officers searched the area for the suspects but did not find them.

The incident is still under investigation.

Lastly, a resident on Cooper Road reported a car burglary on Sunday. The resident told police that they left their car unlocked, and a camera on the property showed a man wearing a red-hooded sweatshirt entering the vehicle and stealing items.

The suspect also checked two other locked vehicles on the property before fleeing, police said. This incident also remains under investigation.

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