By Paige Gross | For NJ Advance Media
A string of recent car burglaries in Burlington and Mercer counties have area police departments on alert for a group of transient thieves known as the Felony Lane Gang.
Bordentown Township police are the latest to see the presence of the group, which are known to smash windows of cars parked near gyms, pre-schools and parks and stealing purses, money, photo identification and checkbooks that are left in sight.
Gang members then cash the checks using the far-outside lanes of drive-through banks, where they can easily use a stolen identification card to do so, officials say. The gang is based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., according to the FBI.
Car smashed at a gym in Bordentown Township. (Police photo)
Acting Bordentown Township Police Chief Brian Pesce told NJ Advance Media that a vehicle had its window blown out and items were stolen while parked outside of a local gym Tuesday night.
After speaking with other area police departments and learning about at least five incidents in Hamilton, Ewing and Robbinsville, Pesce put out the alert on the department's Facebook page.
Pesce mentioned recent reports of similar incidents in Camden and Monmouth counties as well. "[Local attacks] are highly consistent with their method of operation," Pesce said.
New Jersey has seen previous suspected break-ins by Felony Lane members in Morris and Bergen counties in 2016 and 2017.
Nationwide, the group's crimes – and arrests – are often posted on a Facebook page called the Felony Lane Gang Task Force. In the past few days, posts have been made about crimes in Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky and Rhode Island.
Ten members of the crime network were indicted in Pennsylvania in 2012 and pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit fraud, bank fraud, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, the Philadelphia chapter of the FBI said in 2014.
The charges came from a string of break-ins in 2012 in central Pennsylvania, where members stole the identities of more than 100 people.
Bordentown Township police advised motorists against leaving purses or any valuables visible inside parked vehicles and to make sure cars are locked. If you discover a break-in, call 911 immediately and notify banks and credit card companies of the theft. Be on the lookout in parking lots.
"They are constantly recruiting new members," Pesce said. "The more eyes on the street, the better."
Paige Gross may be reached at pgross@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @By_paigegross. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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