By: Alexis Tarrazi
BERNARDSVILLE, NJ — A car stolen on Saturday has prompted police to encourage Bernardsville residents with video surveillance cameras to allow police to access them to help combat property crimes.
A resident of Mine Mt Road reported that a 2013 BMW 528, valued at $43,000 was taken from the driveway. The theft occurred overnight between Friday and Saturday,. The car was reportedly unlocked and a key fob was in the vehicle at the time of the theft. The vehicle was later recovered by police on Saturday in Newark, police report.
"The 'Eyes on Bernardsville' program utilizes the availability of surveillance camera technology to gather evidence, detect crime and investigate incidents of crimes when they occur," Bernardsville Police stated. "It's another tool police can use to protect property, help keep our community safe and identify criminals."
The community crime prevention program, "Eyes on Bernardsville," was implemented in April 2017. Residents are encouraged to voluntarily register their video surveillance system through the Police Department website.
The program allows police to record the locations of privately owned security cameras and identify areas where video surveillance might be recording activity in public areas such as on streets, in parking lots or on public sidewalks and on private property to help investigators when a crime is committed, police stated.