Westfield police say they forced entry to a home on East Dudley Avenue through a front window while residents were inside and left through the front door leaving it wide open.
Police are looking for three people who broke into a Westfield home wearing masks and hoods. Police say the suspects stole keys from the kitchen and then two high-end vehicles.
Westfield police say they forced entry to a home on East Dudley Avenue through a front window while residents were inside and left through the front door leaving it wide open.
"I do think that is very scary," said Sophia Wilkins of Scotch Plains. "I live in the area and I want to know that I'm safe in my house so I hope they get to the bottom of who did it."
The alarm company first notified Westfield police for an activated burglar alarm. While police were working on that call, they say, the resident called 911 to report a 2024 BMW X7 stolen from their driveway.
"The residents did everything that they should have done," said Chief Christopher Battiloro of the Westfield Police Department. "Their cars were locked, the home was locked, they had an alarm, it was armed but unfortunately it did not scare off the preparators.
Officers responded and found another vehicle had been stolen from the property, a 2022 Porsche Macan. Both of those high-end vehicles were parked outside, and police believe those were targeted.
"I feel that Westfield is hit hard because of the demographic here,” said realtor Robert Lacovara. “The houses, the cars – because what's available possibly inside the house.”
According to Westfield police, vehicle theft in Union County is down 2% from last year. However, just last week, a total of 29 vehicles were reported stolen. Police say so far this year in Westfield five vehicles have been reported stolen.
"This has been a constant problem for us for the last seven or eight years," said Battiloro. "It's not going away. It's not getting better. It's constant."
Westfield police is urging residents to remain alert, no matter the hour of the day and always report suspicious activity to 911.