Minivan may be getaway car in Parsippany daycare thefts

PARSIPPANY – A thief who stole purses from cars parked outside daycare centers may have used a disguise of sorts; a minivan.

Police on Thursday released a description of a vehicle they are seeking in connection with the theft of three designer purses from three vehicles at three separate day care centers on the same morning.

The Parsippany Police Department Investigative Division is currently following up on leads that the suspect’s vehicle is a dark blue minivan with New York plates, Patrolman Remo D’Alessandro said.

No description of a suspect or suspects was available Thursday afternoon, D’Alessandro said.

All three purses were taken Jan. 30; the first a Coach purse at about 10 a.m. from an unlocked 2011 Audi at the Learning Experience Day Care on Parsippany Boulevard, police said.

Minutes later at about 10:04 a.m., another Coach purse was stolen from a 2013 Subaru at Bright Horizons Day Care on Dryden Way. The front driver’s side window of the vehicle was smashed, police said

Later that night at about 6:16 p.m., a 39-year-old woman reported her purse, iPad, and Kindle Fire were stolen from her unlocked vehicle at the Apple Montessori Day Care on Littleton Road earlier that morning, police said.

Police “strongly believe” the incidents are related, but the investigation is ongoing, D’Alessandro said.

Anyone who might have information about the thefts is asked to call 973-263-4311.

Michael Izzo: 973-428-6636; mizzo@njpressmedia.com