STONE HARBOR – Stone Harbor Police Chief Thomas Schutta is telling residents to be sure to lock their cars and take the keys – and lock their residences, as well.
Schutta said there have been several attempts to steal high-end cars from the Stone Harbor community recently, with one being successful.
The police chief said that for the time being, they suspect someone is targeting high-end cars along the barrier islands, with reports of thefts or attempted thefts occurring in other towns along the shore.
Schutta said when an individual is seen trying a door handle on a car that doesn’t belong to them, it’s treated as a car burglary.
“There are often car burglaries where kids rifle around for change,” Schutta said.
In North Wildwood, July 5, an individual was observed looking inside a car’s central console with a flashlight. Moving to another car, the suspect tried the door handle, which amounted to a second charge of burglary.
Schutta said the matter becomes car theft when the individual gets in and starts the car. Three 15-year-olds were arrested in Wildwood Crest, July 12, on charges of burglary for opening cars. Police said the car they used was reported stolen from Millville, and it appeared the three were attempting to steal cars in Wildwood Crest.
Schutta said just before 7 a.m., July 20, a woman observed a man approach her Mercedes in her driveway in Stone Harbor Manor and try the door handle. She asked him what he was doing and he turned and jumped in a white SUV and left the area.
Later, her husband observed what seemed to be the same vehicle stop near a neighbor’s house and an individual tried the door handle on a BMW SUV. The husband yelled over at the individual, who, again, left in the white SUV.
Schutta said there have been similar reports in the north, center, and south end of the borough. A Land Rover was apparently stolen from Stone Harbor Manor, which is in Middle Township, during the morning of July 21.
“I have a feeling it was taken in the early morning. I don’t know exactly when,” Schutta said, adding that all the attempts were on high-end cars.
He said Stone Harbor has been lucky, overall, because they had no cars stolen in 2022, and only one taken in 2021. He said Avalon might have had one taken this year.
In 2022, a Bentley, Porsche, Mercedes, and BMW were stolen from separate residences in Avalon. In each case, the thieves entered the residence through an unlocked door and were able to locate the car keys. It was suspected to be the work of a car theft ring.
Schutta said people should never leave their car keys in their cars. He said the side view mirrors on some high-end cars will move to the out position if the key fob is in the car.
“(Thieves) can just look at the mirrors and know the key fob is in the car,” Schutta said.
He said always lock your car door and take your keys inside – and then lock the doors to your residence.
Schutta also advises people to report incidents of people attempting to enter cars that don’t belong to them.
“We always say, ‘If you see something, say something.’ Report suspicious activity. Give us a call,” he said.
Schutta said residents should call the police rather than confront suspected thieves because you don’t know who they are. He said the best thing is to get the best possible description of the suspects, their vehicle, and their route of travel.
Contact the author, Christopher South, at csouth@cmcherald.com or 609-886-8600, ext. 128.
