By: Richard L. Smith
Police in Maplewood are urging residents to remain vigilant following a string of motor vehicle thefts and vandalism incidents that have occurred throughout the town in recent days.
The crimes, which range from stolen vehicles to stripped tires and rims, have left car owners frustrated and concerned about their safety. 
The latest wave of thefts began on February 19, when Maplewood officers responded to a home on Oakland Road after a resident reported their 2018 Honda Accord had been targeted overnight.
The owner awoke to find the vehicle missing its rims and tires.
Just two days later, on February 21, another vehicle was reported stolen from a business on Springfield Avenue.
The owner of a 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan left the car running and unattended, only to return and find it missing. Authorities later recovered the vehicle in Newark.
The situation escalated on February 22 with a residential burglary on Brown Street that resulted in another stolen vehicle.
Investigators determined that suspects gained entry through a first-floor window, stole the keys to a 2025 BMW X5, and drove off with the luxury SUV.
On February 24, another case of stripped car parts was reported, this time on Midland Boulevard.
A resident who parked their 2023 Honda Civic on the street returned to find the rims and tires had been removed.
The latest reported incident occurred on February 25 in a church parking lot on Prospect Street, where a 2010 Ford F-150 was stolen overnight. 
Maplewood police are actively investigating these crimes and reminding residents to take precautions, including securing their vehicles, avoiding leaving them running unattended, and parking in well-lit areas whenever possible.
Anyone with information about these incidents is urged to contact the Maplewood Police Department.