2 stolen from local convenience stores

HAMMONTON—Police are investigating three recent separate but unrelated car thefts, two of which occurred in July at two different convenience stores on Route 54, and one of which occurred at a commercial business on August 7, Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel said.

Friel said a vehicle was reported stolen at 10:16 a.m. on August 7 on the prime block of S. White Horse Pike (Route 30).

A 2005 Dodge Ram was taken from the parking lot of a commercial business, Friel said.

“The vehicle was left running and unlocked. A white male believed to be in his 30s was observed entering the vehicle and driving away,” Friel said.

Officer Daniel Norcross is the investigating officer, Friel said.

The vehicle has been entered into NCIC as a stolen vehicle and anyone with any information should contact the Hammonton Police Department at (609) 561-4000, Friel said.

The second of the car thefts occurred after a motor vehicle crash that happened at 5:02 a.m. on July 29, Friel said.

A stolen vehicle from Stafford Twp. driven by an unknown driver ran off the roadway into parked vehicles on the corner of 13th Street and Railroad Avenue, Friel said.

The unknown driver and occupants fled the scene, Friel said, adding that the vehicle was impounded and Stafford Twp. was notified about the vehicle.

Officer Kenneth O’Neil was the investigating officer, Friel said.

A short time later, at 5:25 a.m. a caller reported that a rental vehicle that had been left running and unlocked in the parking area of a convenience store in the 100 block of 12th Street was taken, Friel said.

Officer Travis Hoffman, the investigating officer, reviewed security camera footage and observed three male subjects exiting the store at about 5:16 a.m., entering the vehicle and leaving the premises, Friel said.

Earlier in the month, on July 24 at 11:34 a.m., police were called to the 300 block of Bellevue Avenue in reference to a separate and unrelated stolen vehicle, Friel said.

“The vehicle was a black 2003 four-door Mazda 6,” Friel said.

The victim described the accused as a white male, approximately 6 feet tall, approximately 30 years of age with a tattoo on his left forearm, Friel said.

“The vehicle was left unlocked with the keys in the vehicle,” Friel said.

Officer Christopher Henshaw is the investigating officer, Friel said.

According to police, there were a total of four separate stolen vehicles in Hammonton during the month of July and the first week of August, including a Land Rover that was stolen on the 300 block of the White Horse Pike (Route 30) at 3:20 p.m. on July 20.

Anyone with any information about the stolen vehicles should contact the Hammonton Police Department at (609) 561-4000, Friel said.