Cranford Police Warn Of Car Thefts; Newark Teen Arrested For One

CRANFORD, NJ — Cranford police are reminding residents to lock their cars and hide spare keys after three cars were stolen over the past five days. The police said that in two of the three incidents, a car key was left inside the vehicle.

In the most recent of the incidents, police were able to capture a 17-year-old Newark boy when he left the moving vehicle following a police chase, they said.

On New Year's Eve, the Cranford Police Department responded to a report of a motor vehicle theft from Iroquois Road, they said. The vehicle, a 2005 Ford F250, was parked outside the residence and stolen sometime overnight between Dec. 30 and 31, they said. The Newark Police Department recovered the vehicle later on New Year's Eve. The Ford pickup was returned to its owner.

The same night, a second vehicle was reported stolen from near the victim’s residence on Edgebrook Place around 7:50 p.m. The 2020 Subaru Ascent was later recovered by the New Jersey State Police on the morning of Jan. 1.

This past Saturday at 7 p.m., a Broad Street resident reported that her 2019 Nissan Rogue had just been stolen from in front of her home. Within moments, Patrolman Ali Muhammad located the Nissan driving near South Avenue East and Lincoln Avenue East and attempted to stop the vehicle. Shortly thereafter, the driver exited the vehicle near the intersection while the vehicle was still in motion, police said. A foot pursuit ensued with several other Cranford officers, police said.

The male suspect was eventually apprehended in the rear of a business along the 500 block of South Avenue East. The 17- year-old juvenile suspect from Newark was taken into custody and charged with theft, receiving stolen property, resisting arrest, and multiple motor vehicle violations. The juvenile was released to a guardian pending a Juvenile Court appearance date. The Nissan was returned to its owner.

Cranford Police Department said they are still investigating all three cases.

They wanted to remind members of the public to lock their vehicles, remove any potential spare keys from visible areas inside or around the vehicle, and to remove any valuables.

If suspicious activity is observed, it should be immediately reported to the police. Call 911 or 908-272-2222.

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