This section is based on data provided to the Northern Valley Press by neighborhood police departments. Due to pending court appearances and other variations, the following information shall be read in “press time” context.
TENAFLY, N.J.—On Tuesday, March 19 at 3:15 a.m., an area resident called to report a vehicle had crashed into some bushes in a driveway on Depeyster Avenue.
Upon arrival, officers found an unoccupied 2005 Honda Civic with the engine running and driver’s side door open. The car was partially wedged in some bushes in between two neighboring properties. Officers on the scene located the vehicle’s owner inside one of the homes and quickly determined that this was an attempted car theft, as the car was left unlocked with the key inside, parked inside of an open garage.
“It appears the suspect was able to start the car and back it out of the garage, but was unable to navigate the driveway in reverse and crashed into the bushes, disabling the car,” Tenafly police told Northern Valley Press.
“Another unlocked vehicle in the same open garage was burglarized, but no key was available for the suspect to steal that car. Officers searched the neighborhood and located another unlocked vehicle in a driveway not far from the scene that was also burglarized, but not stolen,” say Tenafly police. “Detectives are reviewing security camera footage from several area homes to determine if the suspects were captured on video in the area.”
Later that same morning, a resident on Hillside Avenue reported that their unlocked vehicle had been burglarized and ransacked, but not stolen. Another resident on Engle Street also reported that their surveillance video camera captured a light-colored SUV stopping in front of their house around 3 a.m., and showed two male suspects wearing hooded sweatshirts and gloves run up their driveway to check the door handles of two parked vehicles. The suspects then fled the area in the same SUV after realizing both parked cars were locked.
“These incidents are under active investigation. If you have any information or believe you may be a victim of an attempted car theft or burglary, please contact our Detective Bureau at (201) 568-5100,” say Tenafly police. “This is another opportunity to remind the public that these types of incidents are crimes of opportunity, and car thieves will continue to come into our neighborhoods to target unlocked vehicles with keys left inside. Please always remember to lock your doors and remove all valuables, keys, and fobs when you park your car at night.”
Police say that despite increased patrols in residential neighborhoods designed to catch these criminals, they can use help from the public.
“If you see something suspicious, please call us immediately so we can send officers to investigate. Suspicious activity may include unfamiliar vehicles driving slowly in your neighborhood, stopping abruptly or parking improperly late at night. Or you may see someone on your property, checking car handles of parked cars, or wearing inappropriate clothing (gloves or masks when its warm, hooded sweatshirts cinched around the face to hide one’s identity, dark clothing at night, etc.),” Tenafly police say.
“Help us catch these criminals by providing as many details as you can (vehicle make, model, color, license plate, clothing description, etc.),” say Tenafly police. “Our officers are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to investigate these reports. We would rather be called immediately and determine the suspicious incident was innocent, rather than be called hours after the fact and learn there were multiple victims of a crime in the area. Thank you for your cooperation.”