Vineland man reports car theft and return

VINELAND – A city man reported a strange "first you see it, then you don’t and then you do" car theft.

After arriving home about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, the man told police he left the keys in the ignition of the unlocked vehicle when he entered his house. Several hours later, his dog’s barking woke him up and when he checked outside the car was gone. On Wednesday morning, the North Lincoln Avenue resident reported his silver 2004 Infiniti G35 stolen from the back of his residence.

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The police entered the car into the National Crime Information Center database as a stolen vehicle.

Later on Wednesday, the car owner showed up a police headquarters to report the car was returned in a strange turn of events.

Earlier in the day, the man reported getting a cellphone call from a blocked number and the male caller told him his car was returned. The man immediately went home and found the car returned and undamaged.

The police removed the car from the NCIC.

Deborah M. Marko, (856) 563-5256; dmarko@gannettnj.com