A would-be car thief climbed into an unlocked Dodge Durango sitting in a Summit driveway on April 25, tried to start it, and failed. The key fob wasn't inside. Ring camera footage caught the whole attempt, start to finish.

That incident is just one of several vehicle crimes reported across the Summit area this year — and it's exactly the kind of scenario the Chatham Police Department is targeting with its "Lock It. Or Lose It." campaign, launched for Vehicle Theft Prevention Month in July. Run in partnership with the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, the campaign boils down to four simple habits: lock your vehicle every time, take the keys and key fobs with you, remove valuables, and park in well-lit areas. Police say most vehicle thefts and break-ins happen precisely because cars are left unlocked or valuables are left sitting in plain view.

Summit police reported a rise in motor vehicle burglaries, attempted thefts and completed thefts in early 2026 — and in most cases, suspects were breaking into homes specifically hunting for key fobs, not just checking car doors. The problem hit closer to home July 2, when Summit police announced the arrest of Nelson Clermont, 21, of Montclair, tied to the theft of two Infiniti Q50 sedans from a local dealership overnight on June 22. One car turned up in Queens, the other in Linden. Clermont now faces charges including conspiracy to commit theft of a motor vehicle and receiving stolen property.

"Criminal activity rarely respects municipal or state boundaries, making strong partnerships between law enforcement agencies more important than ever," Summit Police Chief Ryan Peters said.

The Summit-area cases fit into a much larger statewide and national picture. New Jersey authorities charged 63 people in June in connection with an alleged auto theft trafficking ring responsible for stealing more than 90 high-end vehicles worth over $8 million. Nationally, 850,708 vehicles were reported stolen in 2024 — and a third of those thefts happened right at someone's home.

Chatham's campaign runs through July 31. Residents who spot suspicious activity around vehicles can contact the Chatham Police Department or their local non-emergency line.