CLOSTER, N.J.—Police here are telling residents to lock their car doors and bring their key fobs inside as increasingly dangerous car theft incidents continue.
Some of the car thefts are linked to gang activity, the Closter Police Department told Northern Valley Press.
There have been three incidents in February, including a Feb. 13 chase and car crash, when a juvenile driver was captured, but other suspects escaped, police said.
“It is becoming increasingly more dangerous for the Closter Police and the residents of Closter every time a vehicle is stolen or these individuals come to Closter in attempt to steal another vehicle,” the department said in a statement.
Northern Valley Press has published dozens of articles and warnings about car thefts in the area, and police continue to issue warnings.
State prosecutors have even indicted people, describing how stolen luxury cars are often shipped overseas to be resold.
Police Chase Vehicle; Fleeing Suspect Apparently Steals Yet Another Car
On Feb. 13 at 3:48 a.m., Closter Police were in pursuit of a stolen motor vehicle out of Jersey City, which crashed at Demarest Avenue and Schraalenburgh Road, the department said in a statement.
“The occupants bailed and fled on foot. The driver of the vehicle was apprehended, while the other occupants fled on foot,” the department wrote. “Later in the morning on Feb. 13, patrol units discovered that near the initial motor vehicle crash another resident had their vehicle stolen.”
The juvenile driver that was apprehended was charged with eluding and receiving stolen property, police said.
Incidents on Feb. 4 and 12
Closter police also described two other recent incidents.
On Feb. 4 at 4 a.m., patrol units pursued two stolen vehicles, the department said.
“One vehicle was able to flee the scene east bound towards 9W, while the second vehicle subsequently crashed, the occupants bailed and fled on foot. This vehicle recovered was stolen out of Jersey City, N.J.,” the department added.
On Feb. 12, a stolen motor vehicle was recovered at about 8:15 a.m. on a side street on the East Hill of Closter, police said.
“This vehicle was reported stolen out of Monroe Township, N.J.,” Closter PD said. “A short time later, a resident nearby reported that their vehicle was stolen sometime during the early morning hours on Feb. 12.”
Police use the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Crime Information Center to work with all levels of law enforcement to try to recover the stolen vehicles.