Breaking News
January 18, 2026 - On Sunday, January 18, 2026, at approximately 0658 hours, patrol officers responded to an Oak Ridge Avenue residence near Greenbriar Drive for a report of a burglary to a motor vehicle.
Upon arrival, they met with the resident who indicated he received a surveillance footage alert on his phone at approximately 0347 hours this morning. Further investigation displayed a suspect, described as a male wearing dark-colored clothing with light sneakers and gloves, exit a vehicle, which was stopped in the street near the apron of the driveway, and proceed toward two (2) vehicles parked in the driveway, a 2025 Rivian SUV and 2022 Jeep SUV. The suspect can then be seen unsuccessfully attempt to enter the Rivian, which was locked, and enter the Jeep, which was unlocked. Nothing of value was reported stolen.
Residents are encouraged to review surveillance footage cameras from last night and report any suspicious activity to (908) 273-0051.
Please remember to secure all vehicles and houses, remove belongings from plain sight, and report suspicious activity. Together we can keep Summit safe!
January 13, 2026 - On Monday, January 12, 2026, at approximately 11:59PM, the Summit Police Department received a 9-1-1 call from a resident on Canoe Brook Place that three (3) individuals with ski masks were observed on surveillance camera near the back door of the residence. Prior to arrival, the resident indicated the suspects fled the scene once they observed the homeowner through a window on the first floor. During that time, three (3) officers, who were already in the neighborhood conducting routine residential patrols, located a stolen BMW within seconds and a pursuit was initiated. Summit Police Officers continued to pursue the vehicle into Essex County until such time it was terminated due to public safety reasons.
Over the past several weeks, the region has continued to see an increase in burglaries to motor vehicles, attempted vehicle thefts, motor vehicle thefts, attempted burglaries to houses, as well as burglaries to houses that are occupied. In most of these incidents, suspects entered homes in search of key fobs.
The Summit Police Department is prioritizing this situation and actively participating in information sharing with law enforcement partners in the region as well as deploying additional resources to areas of concern. While we continue to take steps on our end, we also need residents to remain vigilant.
Please take the following precautions, which meaningfully reduce opportunities for crime:
- If possible, park your vehicles inside a garage
- Remove all valuables, including key fobs, from plain view in your car and house
- Lock all vehicle doors
- Lock all exterior doors and windows to your home
- Lock the door between the garage and house if they are connected
- Set your home alarm system if you have one
- Turn on exterior lighting, especially overnight
If you see or hear anything suspicious, or if your home security cameras capture unusual activity, call the Summit Police Department immediately at 908-273-0051 (call 9-1-1 in an emergency). Quick reporting gives us the best chance to respond in real time and prevent additional incidents.
We appreciate your cooperation and vigilance. By working together, we can keep Summit safe!
December 8, 2025 - On December 8, 2025, at approximately 0815 hours, patrol officers responded to a Larned Road residence for a report of an attempted burglary to two (2) motor vehicles that occurred overnight at approximately 0340 hours. Upon arrival, officers met with the resident who indicated Ring camera surveillance footage displayed two (2) suspects, both wearing dark-colored sweatsuits and masks, walk up her driveway and attempt to gain entry into two (2) SUV’s, a 2024 Audi Q7 and a 2019 BMW X5. The suspects were unable to gain entry into the vehicles as they were both secure. The suspects can then be observed running back to Larned Road near Watchung Place and no attempt was made to enter the home.
Anyone with information or surveillance footage for the aforementioned incident is encouraged to contact the Summit Police Department’s Detective Bureau at (908) 273-0051.
Lastly, over the course of the last several weeks, the Summit Police Department has observed an uptick in burglaries to motor vehicles, attempted burglaries to motor vehicles, as well as stolen vehicles entering the city. Additionally, several jurisdictions in the region have had burglaries to occupied residences. Please remain vigilant during the holiday season and remember to lock all doors, set alarms, turn on motion lights, and report suspicious activity. Together, we can keep Summit safe! Thank you.
Surveillance camera footage posted to Summit Police Department Facebook page.
