The Stafford Township Police Department says a recent string of high-end vehicle thefts has them thinking outside the box, but it's not too popular with some neighbors.

The department put out a Facebook post Tuesday night saying they will be checking high-end cars in the evening and overnight hours. Police say officers will be knocking on doors to notify any resident whose car is found unlocked or with a key fob inside.

“All of the vehicles that have been stolen from our area have been unlocked,” says Capt. James Vaughn.

Police are urging residents to lock their cars and take the key fob with them – and if you don’t, police will be looking.

"We've had a Bentley, a couple Audis, BMWs, Range Rovers, so those are the kind of cars that are getting stolen,” says Vaughn.

Backlash from the post had police issuing a second statement, stating they would not be violating any resident's rights, and that they have a way of making observations from the roadway.

"We're going to check to make sure it's unlocked. And if it is unlocked, yes - we're going to make that person aware that their car is unlocked,” says Vaughn. “Again, we're not going into the car, we're not going to lock it for them, but we're going to let them know that their car is unlocked."

But the approach is drawing mixed opinions.

"I don't know,” says Tony Dascoli, of Beach Haven West. “They've got to make a proactive move, if that's their proactive move then so be it. How about sitting around here at 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning and see the cars are buzzing off the island in and out because there's only one way out of this place. That might be a thing that has a little more positive results."

Police say the time it takes to make the checks is worth it.

"It's much longer to investigate a car theft, the manpower hours are patrol officers put into it along with our detective bureau,” says Vaughn. “It's hours and hours of time."

Police say the cars are ending up in Newark and Atlantic City. They say they even had someone crash a stolen car on Route 72 just a few weeks back.