14K Cars Stolen From NJ Streets This Year, Murphy Demands Action

NEW JERSEY — Gov. Phil Murphy offered new proposals Monday to combat auto thefts in New Jersey, plus an old reminder for residents: lock your vehicle, and don't leave the keys inside.

New Jersey officials reported 14,320 car thefts in 2021 — a 22 percent increase over the prior year. So far this year, 13,849 vehicle thefts have been reported, according to State Police.

The state has made progress on preventing car thefts, according to Murphy. Auto thefts in September fell 12 percent from September 2021 and decreased 12 percent in October, compared to that time last year.

But Murphy encouraged the State Legislature to take further actions during Monday's announcement:

• Establishing a persistent auto theft offender statute, which would give state and local prosecutors the option to seek more serious criminal consequences for those who have been repeatedly found guilty of stealing cars.
• Making possession and distribution of certain auto theft tools a crime.
• Imposing criminal penalties for the failure to comply with certain guidelines in the sale and purchase of catalytic converters.
• Investing in enhanced pretrial services to reduce the risk from individuals who are awaiting trial, including:
  • pretrial monitoring from law enforcement.
  • expanding the use of house arrest with location monitoring.
  • providing additional resources related to
  • substance abuse, mental health and housing insecurity.

Additionally, the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission will "start working to add a check box" to vehicle-registration paperwork that lets residents "opt in" to a program that automatically allows police to track participating vehicles if they're stolen. The MVC will also focus on communicating the importance to new drivers of not leaving key fobs where they can get stolen.

The proposals "will strengthen this administration’s efforts to reverse the uptick in vehicle theft we have witnessed over the past few years," Murphy said. "However, we also ask that our residents take additional measures to protect themselves from auto theft. If you cannot park your car in a closed and locked garage, make sure that your vehicle is locked and that the key fob is with you."

It's uncertain how much leaving vehicles unlocked and/or with key fobs inside has contributed to the uptick in thefts. But state law enforcement and police agencies throughout New Jersey have consistently urged residents in recent years to lock their cars and remove keys.

Some of the Murphy administration's suggestions build off measures that state lawmakers have already put forth. State Senators Richard J. Codey (D-27) and Anthony Bucco (R-25) introduced legislation Sept. 22 that would increase penalties for certain crimes related to auto thefts, including those who lead vehicle-trafficking networks. Read more: Democrat, GOP Lawmakers Say NJ Car Thefts Are An 'Epidemic'

With the rise in auto thefts becoming more apparent earlier this year, state officials allocated major funds to the matter and scrapped a new policy that limited police chases. Murphy announced that the state would spend $10 million — from the federal American Rescue Plan's State Fiscal Recovery Fund — for automated plate-recognition technology for law enforcement.

Late last year, Attorney General Matthew Platkin implemented a statewide policy that police could only chase a car if they suspected it had been used for the most serious crimes, such as murder, vehicular homicide or kidnapping. Platkin reversed his policy in April, once again allowing police to pursue stolen vehicles. Read more: As NJ Car Thefts Surge, State Revises Policy To Allow Police Pursuit

State officials reported the following totals for auto theft incidents from 2014-21:

• 2014: 11,702
• 2015: 11,763
• 2016: 11,310
• 2017: 12,178
• 2018: 11,000
• 2019: 10,336
• 2020: 10,279
• 2021: 14,320
• 2022: 13,849 (through Nov. 6)