Police: Thieves Target Cars In Well-To-Do Neighborhoods In Ridgewood, N.J.

RIDGEWOOD, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A neighborhood where the rich and famous live is being targeted by thieves.

Among the victims was a former player for the New York Giants, whose sport-utility vehicle was stolen. In all, the bandits hit three small streets in Ridgewood early on Monday, CBS2's Dave Carlin reported.

"It's scary. It's discomforting," resident Gretchen Putnam said.

On Monday afternoon, police were patrolling Ridgewood's Sunset Avenue, which is dotted with upscale homes. Thieves struck earlier in the morning, jiggling handles and getting in to a total of six unlocked cars.

"If they find a door handle open they are going to go in to the car," Ridgewood Police Capt. Jacqueline Luthcke said.

The thieves rummaged through five of the vehicles, stealing GPS devices, sunglasses, the loose change in cup holders and more, police said.

They hit the jackpot with the sixth vehicle, a luxury SUV they were able to drive away. The vehicle, a Cadillac Escalade purchased back in 2009, belongs to former Giants punter Jeff Feagles, Carlin reported.

Feagles said he woke up Monday morning to find his vehicle missing from his driveway.

"My boys are home from school. I just assumed they were probably staying at somebody's house and then I was going to workout and when I go to workout this morning my wife called me and said 'I think the car is gone, stolen because the kids are here,'" Feagles said.

As CBS2's Tracee Carrasco reported, the former Giant made a very common mistake.

"The door was unlocked, I don't know how they got the car so whether the keys were in it or they were out of it, my son told me they were out of it," he said.

Feagles said it's a lesson learned.

"No matter what neighborhood you live in whether it's safe or not just lock your car. Unfortunately we didn't and they stole our car," he said.

Police said the thieves hit three streets – Sunset, Crest and Heights, which are all in the same general area.

Neighbors said they'll do a better job of securing their valuables.

"We just bought a new car so our cars will be locked and in the garage," Putnam said.

As Ridgewood police searched for Feagles' Escalade they said they were going over footage from neighbors' security cameras, Carlin reported.

"I think people are very trusting in this town," resident Andrea Rademacher said.

Sometimes they are too trusting, police said. After a rash of 20 car break-ins late last year in Ridgewood and neighboring Glen Rock, residents were warned to stop making it so easy for crooks.

That warning was put out again on Monday.

"Whether it's in your driveway, street or garage, lock you cars," Capt. Luthcke said.

Residents were also told to report suspicious behavior, especially during overnight hours when car thieves tend to get busy, Carlin reported.

Police reminded owners of high-end cars to never leave owner's manuals in the cars if they have codes for the keys in them.