The "Felony Lane Gang" is allegedly behind a number of car break-ins around Bergen County, the prosecutor said.
HACKENSACK -- The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office is warning North Jersey residents of a national gang that has been targeting items from inside cars.
The "Felony Lane Gang" is behind a number of car break-ins at gyms, parks, day-care centers and YMCA locations, Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal warned in a Facebook post Friday.
The organized burglary and theft crew have been breaking into unattended cars to steal identification and financial documents, Grewal said. The crew then tries to use the information to withdraw money from bank accounts or make purchases on credit cards.
The "Felony Lane Gang," based in South Florida, allegedly use rental cars to drive across the country to spots popular with women such as gyms, daycare centers and parks, places where purses are often left in vehicles, according to a task force.
They recruit prostitutes or drug addicts disguised with wigs to impersonate people after the documents are stolen, the task force says. The gang has reportedly raked in millions of dollars with the scheme.
Residents are reminded to not leave purses, electronics or other valuable property in a visible site inside vehicles.
Over the last several months, robberies have been reported at Saddle Brook County Park, New York Sports Club in Wyckoff and the Park Ridge Tennis Academy, as well as various other places throughout the county.
Anyone with information on the thefts is asked to call their local police departments.
Fausto Giovanny Pinto may be reached at fpinto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @FGPreporting. Find NJ.com on Facebook.