Burglars Target Washington Township Homes, Cars

Washington Township Police are searching for two men spotted fleeing from a township home that was broken into Tuesday night and for a burglar who hit three parked cars a few hours later, according to Lt. Rich Skinner.

First, a Viola Terrace resident called police at 7:25 p.m. Tuesday to report someone had tried to break into her home, but ran off when she called out. 

Less than an hour later, a Jackson Avenue resident called to report seeing two men with flashlights in a neighbor's home. Police believed the incidents were likely related, Skinner said.

The men were reportedly both wearing jeans and hooded sweatshirts and drove off in a small white sports car, possible an Acura. Residents also reported seeing a car with a similar description near the site of the attempted break-in on Viola Terrace.

Township police and a K-9 unit from the Bergen County Sheriff's Department investigated the incidents.

At about 3 a.m. Wednesday, another resident called police to report that someone had tried to enter his locked car. Police found that three cars on West Place had been entered and that a laptop and hard drive had been stolen from one, some tools were taken from another and a GPS was taken from a third, Skinner said. The cars had apparently been left unlocked.

Skinner said he would like to remind residents to lock their house and car doors and to remove valuables from their vehicles.