Watch CBS News

Police In Manalapan Hunt For Car Thief With Strange MO

MANALAPAN, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Police in New Jersey are looking for a thief with an unusual mode of operation, he has allegedly been stealing and returning the same car.

CBS 2's Emily Smith spoke with residents of Lauren Court, in Manalapan, where the average home costs almost one-million dollars, they said that in both incidents of theft the car was stolen and returned during daylight hours.

One man's home has been hit three times in one month.

He told CBS 2 that a criminal stole his black Chrysler 300 out of his locked garage twice in May. When the thief came back a third time the man met him at the door, but the thief made a hasty escape.

"I confronted him face-to-face, closer than I am with you now. I told him 'son you're wrong for what you've done', he was pleading with me to please let him go," the man said.

Police put together a sketch of the man, believed to be in his twenties with short-cropped, brown hair.

The first time that their house was hit, the victims had left the keys inside the car. On the second occasion the thief entered the house through the driveway, and took the keys, and three-hundred dollars, according to police.

Manalapan Police said that the thief's behavior is anything but normal.

"This is not your typical car theft. Usually the thieves don't return the property. They usually take it and do what they will with it," said Lieutenant Mike Fountain.

Investigators are telling residents in Manalapan to start locking up.

Can you explain the thief's MO? Let us know in our comments section below...

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.