By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
SOUTH BRUNSWICK — Police are searching for a thief who entered eight, unlocked cars over the Labor Day weekend that were parked along Route 27 near the South Brunswick Township-North Brunswick Township border.
The thief took change, wallets, gift cards and electronic items from the cars.
Police are following up on a “person of interest,” but in the meantime, residents can take some basic precautions — beginning with locking the car doors. Even if the car is parked in the driveway, the contents inside are still open for the taking. A locked car will deter someone looking for an easy target, police said.
Any personal items that are visible from the outside — even an empty shopping bag — could be tempting to a thief because it could be viewed as a valuable or a carrier of valuable items. Keep electronic items and accessories out of sight, or take them inside the house.
Windows and sunroofs should be kept completely closed, police said. Open windows will disable the pressure sensor in some car alarms, leaving the vehicle more vulnerable to a break-in and also potentially giving the thief more time before the alarm goes off.
Police also urge owners to park in a busy, well-lit area and to avoid parking near larger vehicles, fences or foliage that might hide the car from view. Except for the most brazen thieves, the greater the chances are that someone might see a crime in progress, the lower the chances are that a thief will try to break into the car.
If a passer-by or a resident sees a suspicious person or motor vehicle in the neighborhood, call the South Brunswick Police Department’s non-emergency phone number at 732-329-4646 to have it investigated further.
