WESTFIELD, NJ – Newark teens are continuing to target suburban neighborhoods across the state to steal vehicles. The latest report comes from Westfield, where a 17-year-old Newark resident was charged for burglary to a vehicle in the town.
It turns out he was with three others joyriding in a Mercedes Benz stolen out of South River.
According to Westfield Police Chief Christopher Battiloro, that 17-year-old Newark male has been charged with last Thursday’s burglary of a vehicle that was parked in the street on the 400 block of Harrison Avenue.
“At approximately 1:20 PM on July 7, 2022, the teen was observed exiting a blue Mercedes Benz with an unidentified New York registration and entering the driver’s side door of the unlocked vehicle. He was among four (4) persons arrested at Short Hills Mall later that afternoon by Millburn Police in possession of the blue Mercedes Benz, which was reported stolen from South River. All four (4) persons were charged by Millburn Police with Receiving Stolen Property,” Chief Battiloro said.
“Chief Battiloro advises there has been a significant spike in recent vehicle thefts and attempted vehicle thefts in the area and that Westfield, like many surrounding communities, continues to be a very popular target,” the Westfield Police Department said.
Recent theft reports include a 2014 Land Rover Range Rover reported stolen from the driveway of a residence located on the 200 block of Lynn Lane at 4:16 AM on Saturday, July 2, 2022, and a 2021 Porsche Macan was reported stolen from the parking lot of Nomahegan Swim Club located on the 500 block of Springfield Avenue between 5:45 PM and 7:30 PM on Sunday, July 3, 2022. Both were left unlocked with key fobs in them at the time of their thefts.
Chief Battiloro urges residents to always lock their vehicles and remove their keys fobs, regardless of the hour of the day. “Our police officers are working hard to identify perpetrators, make arrests, and deter further vehicle thefts, but we need our residents to do their part,” he added.