Police: Thefts From Cars Continue

Cars are still targets for thieves.

Two unlocked cars were reportedly broken into in Maplewood in August, police say. The robberies come after similar reports from July. On Friday, Aug. 7, a Hudson Avenue resident told police that someone entered his unlocked vehicle. The car’s radio was missing and parts of the interior were reportedly damaged. On Sunday, Aug. 9, the owner of a car parked on Lindsley Avenue told police that the vehicle had been broken into sometime during the previous evening. The car was parked and unlocked. A black iPod and $45 in cash were reportedly taken.

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Police Report Auto-Related Crime

In July and August, there were thefts from and of cars in the Township.

According to Maplewood Police reports, there were two crimes in late July involving automobiles. On Friday, July 31, an unlocked car was reportedly broken into on Boyden Avenue. A number of items were stolen from the car, including two Maglite flashlights, an iPod and a GPS unit. GPS units were common targets for thieves a couple months ago, but reports of their thefts have tapered off. Click here for tips on securing GPS units in cars. More recently and more seriously, on Tuesday, Aug. 4, an automobile was reportedly stolen from Parker Avenue. According to a police report, a green 2000 Plymouth Voyager minivan went missing sometime after 1 am.

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Thefts From Cars Continue

Police report a string of auto break-ins in the township

Judging from the numerous thefts from cars in late February and early March, Maplewood residents should get in the habit of removing all valuable items from their autos, whether they lock them or not. Thieves, evidently, are on the lookout for everything from high-end electronic devices to construction tools. And, alarmingly, they seem to be making increasingly thorough searches of cars. Simply hiding items in glove compartments doesn’t look like it’s going to cut it anymore. On Tuesday, Feb. 24, a 2004 BMW on Laurel Ave. was broken into between 6 p.m. and 8:40 p.m. The car was locked, and the thief broke the driver's side door to get into the car. Nothing was reported missing, but the glove compartment was reportedly damaged. Four days …