Several Attempted Car Break-Ins, Burglaries In Summit Over Past Week

SUMMIT, NJ — Car burglaries and attempted thefts have become rampant in Summit in recent weeks.

Summit Police sent an alert Tuesday morning that an unlocked Chevy Traverse parked on Waldron Avenue was rummaged through between 3:39 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Monday.

Police said the keys were not left in the vehicle and nothing was reported as taken.

This incident comes after a slew of attempted break-ins that occurred throughout the city last week, according to the most recent police blotter.

On Tuesday, Jan. 24, police said a suspicious man was seen pulling on vehicle door handles in the driveway of a Colony Drive residence. The vehicle was apparently locked, preventing entry, police said.

The suspect then entered a waiting white BMW and fled the scene, according to police. Responding police units intercepted and pursued the suspect vehicle, which had been reported stolen in Linden the previous day.

Police units then terminated the pursuit over public safety concerns. The suspect vehicle was last seen traveling east on Route 24, according to police.

Then on Friday, Jan. 27, at around 1:08 a.m., a man was once again pulling on vehicle door handles in the driveway of a Hawthorne Place residence, according to police.

Police units searched the area but were unable to locate the suspect. Police determined that the suspect had pulled on door handles of vehicles in driveways at four separate residences. All vehicles were determined to be locked, preventing entry by the suspect.

Similar incidents occurred again on Saturday at a Lenox Road residence and Sunday at a Locust Drive apartment complex parking lot. In both incidents, police said the suspect fled the scene in a waiting dark-color sedan.

Police units searched the area after both incidents but were unable to locate the suspect.

You can view the complete police blotter on the Summit Police Department's website.

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