TRENTON, NJ – It’s open season for criminals in New Jersey to steal cars. This year, auto thefts are up 31% and the state’s revolving door of justice and the handcuffing of local police departments are leading to more brazen thefts.
Criminals in New Jersey are smart. They know that police are no longer allowed to engage in high-speed pursuits. They also know that if they are caught stealing a car, they will be out of jail before the arresting police officer finishes filing the paperwork. That’s because stealing a car is not considered a violent crime and most car thieves will be granted pre-trial released under New Jersey’s bail reform laws.
Either way, Governor Phil Murphy and his administration are going through the motions by throwing a little bit of cash at the problem.
Acting Attorney General Matt Platkin is making available up to $125,000 in federal Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) funds to bolster resources and capabilities, including law enforcement personnel and equipment purchases.
In 2021, there were a total of 14,320 vehicles reported stolen in New Jersey, a 22 percent increase in overall thefts compared to the year before. In addition, State Police analysis reveals a strong nexus between cases involving receiving stolen property—including stolen vehicles—and shootings. Last year the State Police reported 3,075 arrests involving receiving stolen property; most auto theft cases in New Jersey are charged as receiving stolen property. Of those arrested for receiving stolen property, 211 were involved in 377 shootings, and 285 were arrested with a firearm.
According to data from the New Jersey Regional Operations & Intelligence Center (ROIC), auto theft is up 31 percent in the state’s so-called CorrStat Region, which represents more than 80 municipalities in northeast New Jersey along the Route 21 corridor, including Newark. This area accounts for 63 percent of the state’s total motor vehicle thefts.
However, car thefts are happening all over New Jersey, in the suburbs as well as larger cities. In January of this year, municipalities including Monroe, Edison, Franklin Township (Somerset County), Ocean Township, Oceanport, and Hamilton Township (Mercer County) reported motor vehicle thefts with subsequent burglaries into victims’ residences. The offenders associated with these crimes often have violent and property crime-related criminal histories and connections to violent gangs. This adds to the growing concern over the connection between auto theft and more serious crimes like shootings and robberies.
NJOAG Press Release
“The New Jersey State Police has been dedicated in our efforts to curb this growing trend but the increase in motor vehicle thefts cannot be denied,” said Colonel Patrick J. Callahan of the New Jersey State Police. “The public has to realize this is a very real and very dangerous problem that has implications far beyond the initial theft of a vehicle and carries into the realm of violent crime. The technological resources at our disposal have allowed us to identify key trends and target offenders but to avoid becoming a statistic yourself, secure your vehicle and take the key or key fob with you.”
“Auto theft is a growing factor in violent crime across New Jersey,” said Director Lyndsay V. Ruotolo of the Division of Criminal Justice. “While auto thieves are continuously evolving and adapting their techniques, we too are committed to adapting our approach and collaborating with all of our law enforcement partners to investigate and aggressively prosecute these crimes.”
“Auto thefts have been increasing substantially throughout the State in recent months, and have a ripple effect on other, violent crimes in which stolen cars are frequently used,” said Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina, President of the County Prosecutors Association of New Jersey. “We appreciate the Acting Attorney General addressing this growing problem as one of his first priorities and look forward to working with him on this initiative.”
To address the growing number of motor vehicle thefts, the New Jersey State Police established the Auto Theft Task Force. Since its inception in 2015, the task force has continued to expand and is currently comprised of 16 members, six of which are Task Force Officers (TFOs) from six partnering agencies, including the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) and the Westfield, Warren, Bernards, Middletown, and Paramus police departments. The Task Force is currently in the process of expanding to include new assets, with the potential to expand further if circumstances warrant. In 2021, the Auto Theft Task Force conducted 33 vehicle theft investigations, made 75 arrests, seized five firearms, and recovered 130 stolen vehicles valued at approximately $5,690,000.
NJOAG Press Release
In recent months, the Auto Theft Task Force and additional federal, state, county, and local law enforcement partners have been collaborating on efforts to reduce auto theft and violent crime across New Jersey. Most recently, the task force and its partners have worked together on the following cases:
- Operation Dealer or No Deal: In December of 2021, the AG’s Office announced charges against members of an auto theft ring investigated by the Auto Theft Task Force that burglarized car dealerships and stole high-end vehicles worth nearly $800,000. Six defendants were charged in connection with thefts of 22 vehicles valued at over $787,000. Vehicles were stolen from car dealerships in Irvington, Jersey City, and Englewood. Another vehicle was stolen from a driveway in Moorestown.
- Operation Grab and Go: In August 2021, an investigation initially focused on thefts of motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) by the Auto Theft Task Force and DCJ Specialized Crime Bureau led to the discovery of an illegal weapons trafficking operation. In total, two assault rifles, 18 handguns (including eight ghost guns), two illegal large capacity magazines, and 20 stolen motorcycles were recovered.
- In June 2021, another five defendants were charged with operating a Newark-based fencing ring that trafficked stolen high-end vehicles as the result of an investigation by the Auto Theft Task Force. The defendants and other unidentified individuals allegedly conspired to possess and fence 18 high-end stolen vehicles valued at more than $1 million. Most of the vehicles were stolen in New York State and driven to New Jersey, where they most often were parked in the driveway of one of the defendant’s residence in Newark.
The top vehicles stolen statewide so far this year include Honda Accord, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Honda CR-V, BMW X5, and BMW 3-Series. Thefts of high-end vehicles (newer vehicles with sticker prices of $50,000 and up) have risen dramatically over the past year. In the CorrStat region, thefts of high-end motor vehicles increased 127 percent from January 31, 2021 to January 31, 2022. Year-to-date thefts of the following high-end vehicles have increased significantly compared to 2021; BMW X6, Land Rover Range Rover Sport, Audi Q5, and BMW X3.
Portions of this article include a press release from the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office.
