The Lakewood Police Department this morning released new details into Friday night’s carjacking incident on Clifton Avenue.
Dsgt. Greg Staffordsmith released the following statement:
On April 4 at approximately 9:55 p.m., Officer Buble responded to 700 Clifton Avenue after being dispatched to the report of a stolen car occupied by two young children.
Upon arrival she met with the victim, a Pinehurst Drive resident, who was visibly upset. He explained that he had just arrived at the apartment complex to get a phone number from his friend who was meeting him at the door.
The victim reported seeing an unidentified Hispanic male who appeared to be talking on a cell phone while standing up against another nearby vehicle.
As he was speaking to his friend at the door and only a short distance from his vehicle, he observed the unknown suspect enter his car and speed off. The victim attempted to give chase on foot.
After his failed attempt, he immediately called 9-1-1 to report the event and advised that he last saw the vehicle heading South on Madison Avenue (Rt. 9).
Within minutes of PO Buble’s arrival on scene, PO Michael Anderson located the abandoned vehicle parked several blocks away on Third Street, just west of Madison Avenue. PO Anderson advised that both children were safely sleeping in the back seat.
Witnesses advised him that they observed a Hispanic male fleeing from the vehicle on foot. At that time, assistance from the Ocean County Sheriff’s Dept K-9 Unit was sought to try and track the suspect and the Criminal Investigations Unit to processes the car for any evidence which may help identify the suspect.
The children were immediately reunited with the father.
The suspect is described as Hispanic male, approx. 18-24 yrs old. He is described as having dark features, a goatee and was last seen wearing a red baseball hat, a red zip up hooded jacket and wearing brown or maroon pants.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Dsgt. Robert Humeny at 732-363-0200 ext. 5339 or Dsgt. Greg Staffordsmith at 732-363-0200 ext. 5318. [TLS]
Aren’t there cameras in that area?
no words!! the story spks for itself…
Interesting that there are no comments about how could a parent leave his sleeping kids in a running car even for a minute? The kids were reunited with the parent. Great and I say people make mistakes, even bad ones, and he’ll learn from this mistake…glad it had a happy ending. But why is there a double standard, where some parents face ridicule and comments calling for their heads, and indeed sometimes face arrest by police and charges of child endangerment for leaving kids in a (running, unlocked) car and DYFS sticks their noses into investigating, threatening, and harassing the parents, even taking the kids away sometimes, while others can simply say “my mistake, sorry” and be done with it? (moderated)
always shut the ignition and hold ur key in ur hand FOR THIS REASON. EVEN IF YOU are within sight of the vehicle, esp if u have precious cargo inside!!
#4 – absolutely
@ interesting:
While I don’t condone anyone walking out of a car with his or her kids inside, this situation is different.
If i understand the story properly, the victim was within EYESIGHT of his vehicle.
That is the difference.
While I would never leave my car with my children inside because of story’s such as this; you cannot compare this to the people that go shopping and leave the children inside the car while they are 100 or 200 feet away and/ or not within eyesight.
That my friend, is the possible difference. Not everything is a conspiracy.