Police: Man Flees Dealership, Damaged Cars

An alleged burglar is still on the loose after two cars were broken into at the Hackettstown Honda dealership early Saturday morning, said.

Officer Robert Brobst was patrolling the business at 12:43 a.m. when he observed a U-Haul truck parked in the rear of the building with no lights on, Lt. Doug Compton said.

Brobst then noticed a 2012 Honda Accord with its driver’s side window broken out and parts of the vehicle strewn about on the ground, Compton said.

As Brobst continued his investigation of the U-Haul truck, he saw a male flee the scene, Compton said. During Brobst’s search for the alleged perpetrator, he found another 2012 Honda Accord damaged with parts missing, Compton said.

Authorities later determined the U-Haul was stolen out of Paterson. An ensuing search of the surrounding area by members of the Washington Township Police Department, Mount Olive Township Police Department, Hackettstown Police Department, Morris County Sheriff’s K-9 Unit and New Jersey State Police Aviation Unit turned up empty, Compton said.

The investigation is ongoing and being handled by the Washington Township Detective Bureau. If you have any information about the incident, call 908-876-3232.

For questions about this post, please email jason.koestenblatt@patch.com.