LACEY TOWNSHIP, NJ – New Jersey is suffering from a drastic increase in vehicle thefts over the past year, but an incident that happened in Lacey Township brings the crisis to a whole new level.
Typically car thieves target cars that are left unlocked with key fobs inside or left running outside of stores and businesses. This time the car was left warming up in the owner’s home driveway for a few minutes.
Related: Here are the 12 vehicles New Jersey car thieves steal the most
“Officers Watkins and Copes responded to the 1000 block of Buena Vista Road, Forked River, for a report of a stolen vehicle,” the Lacey Township Police Department reported. “Upon arrival, they met with the caller/vehicle owner, who indicated after starting their vehicle, they returned inside the home, leaving the vehicle running and unsecured.”
According to a statement by Lacey Police Chief Michael DiBella, the victim reported shortly after, they heard engine revving and discovered that the vehicle was gone.
“While Officer Watkins was taking the report, dispatch received a separate call for a vehicle on fire near the 7-Eleven parking, 403 Route 9 North, Lanoka Harbor,” Chief DiBella said. “Officers responding to 7-Eleven, located a parked vehicle, however, it was not on fire.”
The vehicle was confirmed as being the same vehicle that was reported stolen. The Detective Bureau and Ocean County Sherriff’s Department were notified and responded to investigate. This case is currently under investigation.