South Brunswick police received a report at 1 a.m. May 18 from a resident at the East Garden Apartments that someone had just stolen their 2021 Toyota RAV4.
The victim said the previous night, they noticed someone had entered their unlocked vehicle and taken items including a key fob for the vehicle, according to information provided by the South Brunswick Police Department later on May 18.
Several minutes later, South Brunswick Officers Brian Kim and Tyler Harpster observed the Toyota on Route 27 near Finnegans Lane. After officers activated their emergency lights, the driver of the Toyota reportedly drove one block, turned off his headlights and turned onto a dead-end side street, according to police. With his headlights off, the driver crashed into a guardrail at the end of the street and fled, police said.
North Brunswick police, as well as New Jersey State Police K-9 and aviation, assisted in searching for the suspect, but he was not located.
There appears to be an increase in stolen motor vehicles in the overnight hours over the past three weeks, South Brunswick police said. Drivers are reminded to lock their vehicles and not to leave key fabs in your unsecured vehicles.
Police continue to investigate the incident. Anyone with information should call 732-329-4646.
