4 Car Burglaries, Many Attempted Thefts In Westfield Last Week: Police

WESTFIELD, NJ — Car burglaries and attempted thefts have become rampant in Westfield in recent weeks, and several incidents occurred last week, according to the most recent police blotter.

In total, four residents had their cars broken into last week, many of them losing valuable items that were stored in their cars. One resident also had a catalytic converter stolen.

The first incident occurred on Nov. 23 on Dickson Drive at around 4:10 a.m. when a resident reported that around $500 worth of clothing was stolen from inside their vehicle when it was burglarized, police said.

The resident told police that their car was parked and unlocked in their driveway at the time of the theft. Police said the thieves also attempted to break into the resident's home through the front door, but they were unsuccessful.

The incident was captured on surveillance footage, and there was no criminal mischief to the residence, police said.

Another theft occurred on Thanksgiving Day at around 2 p.m. on the 300 block of Belmar Place. A resident reported that a suspect entered their car, which was parked on the curb line on Belmar Place. Around $1,350 worth of items were stolen from inside the car, police said.

Later in the afternoon on Thanksgiving, a resident told police they saw someone attempt to enter their neighbor's car on Sanford Avenue.

Police said the suspect approached a parked car in the driveway and pulled on the door handle, which was unlocked. The suspect then returned to an awaiting car, and Westfield Police later saw the suspect vehicle, but the driver fled the scene.

The identity of the suspects is unknown at this time, according to police, and no damage was done to the vehicle.

Lastly, an attempted theft occurred on Nov. 26 at around 4:25 p.m. on the 200 block of Sunset Avenue. A resident told police they saw the suspect exit a newer model of a black-colored Mercedes with tinted windows that stopped near their home.

According to police, the suspect was a man wearing a black sweatshirt, black sweatpants with a white vertical stripe and black sneakers. The suspect fled prior to police arriving.

One resident also had a catalytic converter stolen from his vehicle on Nov. 26 at around 8 a.m. on the 100 block of Harrow Road. Police the value of the converter is around $2,000.

Westfield has seen many thefts catalytic converters in recent months.

Read more: Catalytic Converters, Valuables Stolen From Westfield Cars: Police

You can view the full police blotter from last week on Westfield Police Department's Facebook page.

Have a news tip? Email remy.samuels@patch.com.