SOUTH JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — Lawmakers in New Jersey are introducing a bill to address what they say is an alarming trend of auto thefts involving minors.
They say teens are being recruited by gang leaders to steal high-end cars because they know prosecutors are likely to go soft on juveniles, explained Republican state Sen. Declan O’Scanlon.
And, the trend is getting more dangerous as thieves have been following victims into their suburban communities and stealing car keys from inside houses. O’Scanlon said the “overwhelming majority” of these thefts involve cars with keys left in them, but more and more of the thefts now include home invasions.
“It’s an epidemic, wherever there are high-end cars,” said O’Scanlon, who represents Monmouth County. “This has to stop.”
His bill would stiffen penalties for auto thefts, especially in instances when keys are removed from a home, and ensure crimes committed by teens aren’t taken lightly.
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“We have to attack these gangs that, very purposely, turn juveniles into criminals knowing that they will be in and out of the system if they get caught,” O’Scanlon added.
“We need to protect the people of New Jersey. That needs to be the focus, and doing these reforms is a way to do that. And we ought to do it before some horrific tragedy.”
O’Scanlon believes he will get the support needed from Democrats in Trenton to pass these reforms.
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