HAZLET, N.J. — New Jersey Assemblyman Paul Kanitra’s home was broken into early Tuesday morning while his wife and mother-in-law slept, according to a post the lawmaker shared on social media. The burglary occurred at his mother-in-law’s residence in Hazlet, where the family has been staying while their Point Pleasant Beach home is undergoing renovations.
Kanitra, who was in Washington, D.C., at the time for work, described the incident in detail, stating that a group of individuals arrived at the house shortly before 6 a.m. in a stolen white BMW with temporary plates. The intruders removed window screens before breaking a window to gain entry. Once inside, they searched the home and eventually found the keys to Kanitra’s vehicle, which they subsequently stole.
“My wife and mother-in-law were feet away from possibly being murdered,” Kanitra wrote. He expressed gratitude that his family did not confront the intruders, stating, “Had [my mother-in-law] confronted the robbers, God only knows what could have happened to her.”
The stolen vehicle, which bore State Assembly plates, was tracked by New Jersey State Police and later found in New York. Kanitra commended law enforcement for recovering the car, remarking, “I cannot say enough about how incredible and talented our law enforcement is.”
Kanitra’s post also criticized state policies and leaders, attributing the rise in such crimes to legislative changes that he believes have weakened penalties for offenders, particularly minors. He called on voters to hold lawmakers accountable, stating, “This is political. New Jersey, please wake up and vote every single one of these weak, woke [politicians] out of office.”
The incident is under investigation by local law enforcement and state authorities.