JACKSON, NJ – Car thieves have been targeting Jackson Township this week and after a Ring camera caught a would-be car thief, later two vehicles were stolen in the Whitesville section of town.
This weekend Ring doorbell cameras were chiming away in Jackson along East Veterans Highway and South Hope Chapel Road.
In one video, a man exits a car and tries to open the door, but quickly retreats to his car. In another video, a man enters a car parked in a driveway, enters the car, but leaves, most likely because the owner did not leave the key fob in the car.
On Monday, police engaged a suspect who stole a car from a vehicle in the same area.
On Monday at 1:21 am, officers were dispatched to respond to a residence located on Knight Drive on the report of a 2018 Acura which had just been stolen.
While en route to the location, Police Officer Ryan Gladysz observed the reported stolen vehicle traveling on East Veterans Highway. As he turned around to go after the vehicle, he observed a second vehicle pass the Acura at a high rate of speed as both continued west on East Veterans Highway.
The officer then activated his emergency lights and attempted to conduct a motor vehicle stop with the Acura but the driver refused to yield and a pursuit was initiated. Officer Gladysz pursued the Acura onto Cedar Swamp Road and then onto I-195 east. The Acura continued at high speeds onto Route 9 north and as they passed the Freehold Raceway Mall at speeds over 100 mph, the pursuit was terminated for safety concerns.
The officer later went to the victim’s residence on Knight Drive and was advised that the vehicle had been parked unlocked with the key left inside when stolen. Police Officer Eric Fricks also responded to a second residence located on Knight Drive where the resident reported that his 2020 Acura, which had been parked unlocked with the key fob left inside, had also been stolen. It was determined that this was the second vehicle that Officer Gladysz had observed driving at a high rate of speed on East Veterans Highway.
Detectives are currently working on following up information to identify the suspects in these thefts. Anyone with information about them are asked to contact Detective Michael Goelz at 732-928-1111 or through the department’s StopIt app. Online.