Video Catches NJ Bear Breaking Into Car In North Jersey, Report Says

PASSAIC COUNTY, NJ — While police warn of increased car burglaries in the area, it turns out there’s another reason to keep your car doors locked.

Footage sent to News12 New Jersey captures a bear opening a parked car door outside a West Milford home.

The video shows the bear opening the driver's door before losing interest and getting cozy on the residence’s deck.

New Jerseyans are no strangers to bears visiting their residential neighborhoods.

See these bears photographed in a Mendham, Morris County backyard in late June this summer, posted by social media user David Unger:

See Related: Black Bear Spotted In Passaic County Town, Police Say

While many may find bears cute looking, officials remind residents that they can be dangerous. A Rutgers student in West Milford was killed by a black bear in 2014, shortly after capturing its photograph. The tragedy was the first fatal black bear attack recorded in NJ in 150 years.

Here are some do’s and dont’s regarding bear encounters, provided by NJ Department of Environmental Protection’s Fish and Wildlife division:

"DON'T

• Do not feed bears.
• Do not approach bears. Especially feeding bears, which will aggressively defend their food.
• Do not run from bears. Running may trigger a chase response.
• Do not make direct eye contact. Bears may perceive this as a challenge.

DO

• Remain calm and slowly back away.
• Make the bear aware of you.
• Be loud: speak in an assertive voice, yell, sing, or clap your hands. If available, bang pots and pans or use an airhorn.
• Make yourself look big. Wave your arms. Hold your jacket above your head.
• If you’re in a group, stay together and perform these actions together.
• Make sure the bear has an escape route. If a bear enters your home, prop all the doors open.
• If the bear doesn’t leave, move to a secure area.
• If your family lives in an area frequented by black bears, create a “Bear Plan” for children, with an escape route and planned use of whistles and air horns.
• Black bear attacks are extremely rare. If a black bear does attack, fight back! Aim for the snout and/or eyes. Use anything at hand: (knife, sticks, rocks, binoculars, backpack or kick the bear).
• Report black bear damage or nuisance behavior to the DEP’s 24-hour, toll-free hotline at 1-877-WARN DEP (1-877-927-6337)."

For more information on residential bear sightings, visit the NJDEP’s website here.