Sen. Vitale's car stolen, recovered in Newark

WOODBRIDGE - State Sen. Joseph Vitale (D-19) received quite a surprise last week when he went into the Quick Chek on Route 1 south in Avenel for a quick cup of coffee.

His tan 2006 four-door Jeep Grand Cherokee was stolen from the parking lot at 1:32 p.m. on June 6, police said.

The Union and Essex County Sheriff's Department recovered his vehicle in Newark the next day (June 7), police said.

Vitale told police he pulled into the Quick Chek for approximately two minutes to get a cup of coffee and left his vehicle running, police said.

Vitale told police he left his vehicle running because he had trouble starting the vehicle when he first went to start it and it had a weak battery, police said.

The senator's vehicle, which is registered under his business Vitale Sign Co., had personal belongings in it, police said.

The township detective bureau is looking into obtaining the Quick Chek surveillance tape, police said.

Vitale could not be reached for comment on this story.

- Kathy Chang