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.
CRESSKILL: On July 30, Newark Police were able to recover a white Infiniti sedan that had been stolen from a Cresskill resident’s Churchill Road home on July 23. The vehicle was recovered through the use of a tracking device built into the car, and was towed to a local impound in order to be stored until recovery.
DEMAREST: Two cars were stolen from residents’ homes over the weekend. The Demarest Police Department reports that one car was stolen on Hardenburgh Avenue on July 29, and another was stolen on Duane Lane, on July 30. Both vehicles were left unattended, unlocked, and with key fobs left inside the passenger compartments.
HAWORTH: On July 27, the Haworth Police Department issued a warning regarding a string of car burglaries that occurred the night of July 26, into the morning of the 27. The thefts occurred in the south and west areas of town. Dumont Police reported that similar incidents happened in the north end of town. All vehicles that were burglarized had unlocked doors. The Haworth Police Department advises all residents to lock their car doors, and remove valuables from cars at all times. They also urge residents to call headquarters if they witness any suspicious activity.
TENAFLY: On Saturday, July 29, at about 9:30 p.m., an Oak Street resident visited police headquarters to report a laptop and an iPhone charging cable had been missing from inside their car, which was parked in their driveway. The victim stated that they had just returned home a short time before the theft, and left the car unlocked while they were unloading packages. Surveillance vehicle revealed a dark sedan stop in front of the house at about 9 p.m., and a male suspect in a white hat who couldn’t be clearly made out walked up the driveway, entered the victim’s car, and quickly went back to their car before driving away. The incident is still under investigation.
TENAFLY: On Monday, July 31, a Churchill Road resident reported that their 2015 Land Rover was stolen from their driveway. Tenafly officers responded to the home, where the victim said that they had left their car in the driveway, unlocked, with the key fob inside, and went on a weekend vacation with the car left accessible. The victim returned home on Monday to find that the car was missing, and investigation revealed that the car got stolen on the evening of July 29. The car was eventually recovered in Newark on Aug. 1. Detectives are still investigating the incident. According to Tenafly Police Department, all car thefts in the area have involved unlocked cars with key fobs left inside. High-end, luxury vehicles parked in driveways are the most targeted, and thieves don’t seem to be deterred by the presence of video cameras. Often, multiple car thefts happen in a single visit. The department also advises residents to report suspicious vehicles, as witnesses often reported seeing unfamiliar cars driving slowly up and down the street in investigations.