Police Investigate Rash Of Car Burglaries

Montclair Police are investigating a series of burglaries in Montclair in which electronics, a purse and sunglasses were taken from unlocked cars.

On Saturday, a man reported his iPod was taken from his car, which was parked on Bell Street.

The man said he went to work for a few hours at about 2 p.m. and when he returned around 11 p.m., he noticed a window had been pried open, most likely with a paint can opener he found lying on the back seat, police said.

On Friday, a man said someone took his iPod and Verizon jet pack from his unlocked car on the driveway of his James Street home between 7 p.m. Thursday and 1 p.m. Friday, police said.

Also on Friday, a woman said her pink Coach purse containing a Blackberry was taken from her car at the corner of Chestnut Street and Midland Avenue at 11:45 a.m., police said.

Also in the last week:

• A woman said her purse, containing cash and credit cards, was stolen from an unlocked friend's car parked in front of a Grove Street home around 3 p.m. The woman said she and her friend went to the car several times before noticing the purse was missing.

• In addition, a man said his sunglasses, GPS, and a satellite radio were taken from his unlocked car parked at a Forest Street parking lot at around 8:50 a.m.

Montclair Police are cautioning residents to lock their cars even when they are only parked for a brief period of time.