WENONAH, N.J. — In this small Gloucester County borough where late-night traffic is mostly the sound of porch lights buzzing, residents woke up Saturday to a crime spree more fitting for a big-city thriller.

Four unlocked vehicles were stolen within minutes, according to Mantua Township police, who oversee law enforcement for Wenonah. The thefts struck during the early-morning quiet, when most homes were dark and most residents were deep asleep.

By dawn, shock turned into anger — and frustration turned into questions. How did thieves manage to sweep through this small, tightly knit community so quickly? And how close were they to taking even more?

A Coordinated Hit in Under Five Minutes

Authorities say the four vehicles were grabbed almost back-to-back, suggesting a coordinated crew familiar with the neighborhood layout and trained in fast entry and exit tactics.

The thieves moved silently, targeting unlocked cars parked in driveways and along residential streets. Investigators believe the group traveled together, jumping from one vehicle to the next in a perfectly timed sweep.

“They hit four houses in minutes. They knew exactly what they were doing,” one law enforcement official told GSG on condition of anonymity.

The speed of the crime has residents stunned. Wenonah is just over one square mile — a small, tree-lined town known for its walking trails, Victorian homes, and a crime rate so low that residents still talk about incidents from years ago. Which is exactly why this brazen spree sent ripples across town.

Three Cars Recovered Fast — Two in Camden

Mantua Township police moved fast once the thefts were reported, triggering a multijurisdictional search that stretched beyond Gloucester County.

Within one hour, officers recovered three of the four stolen vehicles:

• Two vehicles were found in Camden, abandoned but intact.
• One vehicle was recovered inside Wenonah, suggesting the thieves dumped it while switching cars or fleeing police.

The fourth vehicle remains missing as investigators chase leads and review surveillance footage from homes and businesses across the borough.

Police would not comment on whether the thieves escaped in one of the stolen vehicles or a separate getaway car.

Unlocked Cars: The Common Thread Police Can’t Ignore

As police pieced together timelines, one factor became impossible to ignore — every stolen vehicle was unlocked.

It’s a detail police departments across New Jersey have been emphasizing for years as car theft crews grow more sophisticated, faster, and increasingly bold. And Wenonah is far from alone: communities across Gloucester, Burlington, and Monmouth counties have all seen similar overnight theft sweeps.

Mantua Township police once again reminded residents that an unlocked car with a key fob inside is as good as a green light to organized auto-theft teams.

“These criminals move quickly and look for the easiest targets. Locking your car is the first line of defense,” the department said in a public statement.

Residents on Edge as Investigation Expands

By sunrise, word of the overnight spree spread across town through group chats, Facebook posts, and frantic doorbell-camera checks. Neighbors compared timelines. Some discovered footprints in driveways. Others found car doors slightly open — a sign thieves had checked but moved on.

Residents told GSG the spree felt like a warning.

“We always thought this kind of thing happened somewhere else — not here,” one Wenonah mother said. “Four cars in minutes? That’s not random. That’s a crew.”

Security footage from several homes has already been turned over to Mantua police, who are working with other agencies to identify the suspects and track the unrecovered vehicle.

A Borough Reassessing Its Nighttime Safety

Wenonah may be small, but this incident has sparked big conversations. Town officials are expected to review police patrol patterns, push for expanded camera coverage, and emphasize nighttime safety measures — especially locking cars and removing key fobs.

For a borough that prides itself on low crime and neighborly trust, the theft spree is more than a criminal incident. It’s a wake-up call.

The Search Isn’t Over

As of Sunday, the fourth vehicle remains missing. Police say the investigation is active, with new leads emerging as officers track movements from Camden to Gloucester County.

Anyone with footage, information, or suspicious activity on their street early Saturday is urged to contact Mantua Township police.