A man paused his attempt to steal a car after finding an 11-year-old inside, police said.
A woman reported that she parked her 2019 BMW X4 in the parking lot of 146 Valley Road on Feb. 12. Her 11-year-old son remained in the car.
Shortly thereafter, an unknown male entered the BMW. Upon seeing the child inside, he immediately exited, police said.
The child also exited the vehicle and entered a nearby store to advise his mother of what had transpired, police said. At that point, the man reentered the then-empty vehicle and fled west on Van Vleck Street, police said.
The man was described as approximately 5 feet and 8 inches to 5 feet and 10 inches tall, wearing a gray, hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled over his head. He was also wearing a light blue medical face mask covering the lower portion of his face.
The vehicle was recovered unoccupied in Newark.
The following additional activity has been reported by Montclair Police in their weekly blotter:
MOTOR VEHICLE-RELATED OFFENSES
Wednesday, Feb. 9 — A woman reported that she observed an unknown male walk across her Union Street front yard and enter her parked 2017 Mercedes SUV. The man opened the door and sat in the driver’s seat. The woman yelled out to the man who replied, “Don’t leave your car unlocked.” The man then returned to an awaiting silver sedan with tinted windows and fled east on Union Street.
Wednesday, Feb. 9 — A woman reported that she parked her 2021 BMW X5 on Bloomfield Avenue and entered a nearby business. While inside the business, the woman observed her vehicle driving away, west on Bloomfield Avenue. The vehicle was recovered the next day in West Long Branch.
Friday, Feb. 11 — A resident reported observing four unknown males entering one of his vehicles in his Upper Mountain Avenue driveway. He added that he was working in his first-floor office and observed the males enter his wife’s unlocked vehicle, and then attempt to enter his locked car. The resident yelled at the males, who ran to a dark-colored sedan that fled northbound. The males were described as 15 to 18 years old.
Friday, Feb. 11 — A man reported that his 2020 BMW X5 was stolen from the Bellevue Avenue Train Station Lot. A witness reported that he observed a black four-door vehicle, occupied by four males, slowly circle the parking lot, before stopping on the west side of the lot. Two individuals exited the circling vehicle, then gained entry into the man’s BMW. After starting the vehicle, they fled the area, heading west on Bellevue Avenue. All four individuals were described as males in their late teens or early 20s.
Saturday, Feb. 12 — A man reported that he parked his 2021 BMW X5 on Baldwin Street. A witness reported that while the owner was inside a store, she observed a white BMW pull up alongside the man’s vehicle. A male exited the white BMW and entered the 2021 BMW X5 and began rummaging through it. He then returned to the white BMW and fled west on Glenridge Avenue. The white BMW was a reported as a stolen vehicle out of North Arlington.
Monday, Feb. 14 — A resident reported that his home surveillance system captured an unknown person approach his 2021 Jeep Cherokee at 4:30 a.m. on Mount Vernon Road. The doors to the vehicle were locked. The person returned to an awaiting vehicle and fled west on Mount Vernon Road.
THEFT
Friday, Feb. 11 — A man reported that his third-floor business on Bloomfield Avenue, Alliant Global, was entered while he was out of the office. A ThinkPad Laptop was the only
item reported missing.
Sunday, Feb. 13 — The attendant at the Shell Gas Station on Bloomfield Avenue reported that a 2018 Range Rover arrived and purchased $71 worth of gas. The vehicle then fled east on Bloomfield Avenue without paying. The vehicle was reported stolen out of Wayne.
ASSAULT
Friday, Feb. 11 — A man reported that he was walking on the east side of Pine Street, traveling southbound, when he was approached from behind by an unknown person who struck him in the head. The man reported that he fell to the ground, ultimately causing a laceration and contusion to his head. There was no description of the assailant provided.
VANDALISM
Wednesday, Feb. 9 — A Township employee reported observing fresh graffiti within the Bay Street Parking Deck. The graffiti was located on the third and fourth level and consisted of illegible writings.
Friday, Feb. 11 — A caller reported damage to the outdoor playground at Saint James Episcopal Church on Valley Road. They reported that someone had entered the playground and destroyed two storage containers and two swing sets.
DWI
Sunday, Feb. 13 — A 28-year-old Elizabeth resident was charged with driving while intoxicated following a motor vehicle stop on Bloomfield Avenue.
The police blotter is based on information provided to Montclair Local at the discretion of the Montclair Police Department, and reflects events as described by the department. It may not reflect the complete scope of police activity. Any descriptions of wrongful activity are merely allegations, and any persons mentioned in the blotter are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The MPD encourages anyone who wishes to report criminal or suspicious activity, or who has information pertaining to an ongoing investigation, to call 973-744-1234. In an emergency, residents are urged to call 911.