Theft of $100,000 SUV May Be Related to October Incidents, Police Say

A Franklin Lakes resident who left his keys in his $100,000 SUV and had the vehicle stolen from his driveway Wednesday night might be part of larger series of robberies, according to police.

The Huron Road resident told cops that someone stole his 2010 BMW X6 M — valued at $100,000 — from the driveway and headed south toward Franklin Lakes Road just before 10 p.m. 

The vehicle was unlocked and the proximity key, which unlocks the doors and starts the car, was kept in the vehicle, Franklin Lakes Police Lieutenant John Bakelaar said Thursday. 

Bakelaar said Thursday that police are investigating whether the theft is related to  in which two cars were stolen from Franklin Lake Road resident.

"We believe the theft is related based on similarity in method of operation," he added. 

The Ferrari is also valued at upwards of $100,000. 

Police said access was gained by using the garage door opener that was left in an unlocked car parked in the resident’s driveway.

The investigation is continuing in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies, Bakelaar said Thursday.

Bakelaar advised residents to take better precautions in protecting their vehicles. 

"Lock your car and do not store the proximity key fob in the vehicle or near it," Bakelaar said. "If possible, store your car in a locked garage."

Bakelaar .

In addition to the above crimes, Franklin Lakes Police reported four thefts of luxury cars in a month, from September to October, three of which occurred in one night.

"The common denominator of these crimes is people leaving their cars unlocked and leaving their keys in the console," Bakelaar told NorthJersey.com in October. "If you think it’s convenient, it’s convenient for thieves, too."

Wyckoff Police Chief Benjamin Fox said Thursday that while it doesn't seem that these high-end car thieves have made their way across the border to Wyckoff, there have been a number of .

And that goes hand-in-hand with an issue that Fox said he's been talking about recently: "Just simply lock your car when it's in your driveway."

Fox added that many of the cars that are being stolen or robbed use key fobs, such as the one involved in Wednesday night's incident, and locking the door is as easy as pressing a button. 

"You don't even have to put the key in the hole anymore," Fox said. "That's how simple it is."