SOUTH JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — In 2021, New Jersey saw a 22% increase in car thefts over the previous year. Already in 2022, car thefts are up 30% compared to this time last year.
State Attorney General Matt Platkin warned a stolen car is often just the start of the problem.
“These stolen cars that are being taken are being used again to commit other crimes, and oftentimes, violent crimes — shootings, in particular,” he said.
“They are tracked and we do put resources on them, but it’s easier to get away with a shooting if you’re using a stolen vehicle instead of one that’s tied to your name.”
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While Philadelphia is experiencing a massive spike in carjackings, that’s not the case in New Jersey. Cars in the Garden State aren’t being taken by force.
Platkin said many of these thefts can be avoided simply by locking your car. He said too many people are making the criminals’ jobs easier by leaving their keys in the car or keeping the engine running while they go into a store.
Authorities say organized gangs will drive around a neighborhood looking for unoccupied cars with the car still running.
Platkin’s main goal is to cut down on violent crime, and that starts with reducing the number of stolen cars. The state is also ramping up license plate reading technology in police cars to better identify stolen cars on the road.