The car that surfaced in the water off Grace Oliver’s Beach on Wednesday morning had already left its mark across town, police say — in tire tracks across the Marblehead High School football field.

Marblehead Police Chief Dennis King said the department believes the two incidents are connected, and that the submerged car had been reported stolen. The investigation is being treated as a criminal matter, and police intend to issue charges.

Officers responded to 2 Humphrey Ave. at about 5:40 a.m. Wednesday for a report that a vehicle had driven on Piper Football Field, according to a release from King’s office. They found damage to the field’s access gate and marks indicating vehicles had crossed the turf. The field itself did not sustain significant damage.

A preliminary investigation determined two vehicles were involved, and police obtained descriptions of both.

At about 11:10 a.m., police were called to Grace Oliver’s Beach for a report of a vehicle submerged in the water. Officers, assisted by the Marblehead Harbormaster, determined the car was unoccupied and requested the Salem Police Dive Team. The vehicle matched the description of one of the cars believed to have torn across the field hours earlier.

Harbormaster Mark Souza said his office’s role was limited once the scene was contained.

“I have little to no information other than there was no environmental impact,” Souza said. “We just secured the area from any public.”

Souza said police handled the majority of the incident.

No one was rescued or injured, and as of Wednesday afternoon crews were still weighing the best way to pull the car from the water, town public safety officials said.

Police are working to identify the person or people responsible and are asking the public for help. Anyone with information is asked to call the Marblehead Police Department at 781-631-1212 or email Det. Sgt. Sean Brady at sbrady@marbleheadma.gov or school resource officer Sean Sweeney Jr. at ssweeneyjr@marbleheadma.gov.

For now, the most visible evidence sits where the second car ended its run — underwater, just off the beach.