Ridgewood Man's Car Stolen as he Buys Coffee

East Rutherford Police caught up with and arrested a suspect in Newark who allegedly stole a vehicle from a Paramus Starbucks on Route 17 South Tuesday.

According to northjersey.com, the car’s owner, a 48-year-old Ridgewood man, left the vehicle running while he went inside the Starbucks on Route 17 South just after 5:45 a.m. Tuesday. The thief took off in the vehicle, a 2005 black Toyota Sequoia, and the owner came outside to find it missing, police said.

The car’s owner called Paramus police, which put out a countywide alert. Police in East Rutherford spotted the car, and began a pursuit that went through Clifton and ended on Bridge Street in Newark. David Rogers, 24, of Newark, was arrested.

A similar incident occurred the day prior at a Dunkin Donuts on Route 17. That vehicle has not been recovered.

There have been several similar thefts of vehicles in the last three months where the driver has left the keys in the vehicle and/or the vehicle running in front of a business. Police are urging motorists to remove their keys and lock the vehicle prior to leaving it unattended. 

It's not clear that any of the incidents are related. Anyone with information regarding both incidents should contact Paramus Police Department: 201-262-3400  Ext. 346.

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