TRENTON, NJ Its open season for criminals in New Jersey to steal cars. Ted Sherman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, nearly 7 percent of all vehicles reported stolen in 2014 had keys in them, broke up an international carjacking and stolen car trafficking ring, another ring responsible for shipping dozens of stolen and carjacked luxury cars and sports utility vehicles. The Federal Bureau of Investigation recorded. In Newark, which still remains the stolen car capital of New Jersey, motor vehicle theft through the first nine months of 2015 through September dropped by more than 16 percent over the same period last year, to 1,511 stolen cars and trucks. All the cars were destined for shipment overseas. All three were sent through an international shipping company on Sept. 12. The cars had a fair market value of $149,000. "If people leave their keys in the car or otherwise make it easy for thieves, then all bets are off. Here are the cities with the most vehicle thefts per capita. With CoPilot, you'll save time, money, and frustration. Unless otherwise stated, photos Big Stock Photography Dreamstime Photos Google Maps Thompson Reuters. 'Shooting Fish in a Barrel', For Newark's auto squad, catching auto thieves is routine, Captain Fanning said: "It's like shooting fish in a barrel. The number of cars stolen in New Jersey dropped from 13,709 in 2013 to 11,702 last year, according to State Police data. Such motor vehicles are not impenetrable, so its still wise to take necessary precautions. But about 3:30 A.M. on a recent Saturday, four teen-agers who stood in front of a fried-chicken restaurant on Avon Avenue watching speeding cars do doughnuts said the thrill of pursuit was one reason cars were stolen. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. Thats because the Albuquerque metropolitan area suffers the highest per-capita rate of car thefts in the U.S, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureaus (NICB) annual Hot Spots report. What happened next is an example of how much the Newark Police Department has changed since the days when the city was the car theft capital of the world -- and the most recent change is the body. Los Angeles, California: 53,928 66. "One is on the deck," she said, according to transcripts of the recorded call. "Cars you once could start with a screwdriver you can't take anymore.". In October, the state Attorney General's officebroke up an international carjacking and stolen car trafficking ring that took luxury cars, often by force from suburbs along the Route 17 corridor in New Jersey and other suburban communities. Researchers also calculated the average annual number of motor vehicle thefts, the overall property theft rate, and the violent crime rate for the same years. Many of the cars, which were shipped to waiting buyers in West Africa, were taken from car dealer lots or service departments. San Diego,. 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. Follow him on Twitter @TedShermanSL. However, while The Mob is no longer prevalent on the crime scene, the city is still a hotbed of crime overall. In the case on Tuesday, police recovered a stolen Dodge Charger in the back of a Newark home with a couple of 15-year-olds inside. Up In The Air! You can read the NICBs full report and download a complete list of all 383 ranked cities, and theft rates broken down by areas in each statehere. "It's harder to steal a car," said Anthony Ambrose, Newark's former police director and now chief of detectives for the Essex County Prosecutor's Office. Violent crime rate: 1,117 per 100k people. Its based on data from the Federal Bureau of Investigations preliminary Uniform Crime Report based on thefts reported during the first six months of 2018. The city is home to several major corporations and is a major US cultural centre. If you are interested in speaking with a Newark criminal lawyer then contact our office for afree initial consultationat (201) 793-8018. Know how and what you can negotiate. It was the second time in less than a week that the police in East Orange had shot a suspected car thief. The assailant got in and drove off, taking the victim's car keys, iPhone, iPad, wallet and numerous credit cards. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. (The name of the youth, whose injuries are not life-threatening, has not been released.) Perhaps ironically, considering the citys history with the automotive industry, carjacking is a problem in the city. You can reach him [email protected]. To determine the cities with the highest motor vehicle theft rates, researchers at CoPilot analyzed the latest crime data from the FBIs Uniform Crime Report. Carjacking incidents, while relatively small in numbers statewide, had been climbing with the introduction of keyless entry systems, but recently have been on the wane as well. Richard K. Fanning of the Newark Police Department said an average of 19 cars is stolen in the city every day, down from about 35 a year ago. 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. NEWARK, New Jersey (WABC) -- New Jersey's biggest city is facing a growing problem of car thefts and more and more young people are being found behind the wheel of the stolen cars. Only the 150 largest U.S. cities were included in the analysis. We represent clients in Newark who have been charged or arrested forNorth Bergen Simple Assault Lawyer,Theft by Deception,Possession of Marijuana,Resisting Arrest,Burglary,TrespassingandRobbery. Authorities are still trying to tackle the problem amidst reports of poor leadership among the police. Wichita, Kansas. Ring that stole cars worth $6 million and shipped them to Africa is busted in Newark, 6 from Hudson County arrested, 2 still at large as international auto theft operation shut down; 19 charged, Union County officials arrest 10 in connection with luxury car theft ring. Within minutes, undercover squad cars swooped in on the red Pontiac hatchback at a busy intersection in the West District. I write about how to maximize your automotive investment and more. The takedown marked the latest in a series of cases involving the shipment of stolen vehicles to West Africa: Earlier this month, a Washington, D.C., man pleaded guilty in a conspiracy that involved stealing keys from dealerships then driving the vehicles off the lots after closing. Cars were also stolen from gas stations, convenience stores, carwashes, airports and car dealerships. To improve relevance, only the 150 largest cities in the U.S. were included in the analysis. But in recent days, several people have been killed or hurt in cases involving young people riding in stolen cars, underscoring the seriousness of the problem that remains. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. But Brown, 30, finally sentenced in June to nearly 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to three of the four carjackings, appears to have less company on the streets these days. "So we're asking the public to please lock up your car door, turn the car off, take the keys with you," Brown said. New York City is another city that is strongly associated with crime. Last year, 14,320 vehicles were reported stolen in New Jersey, a 22-percent increase compared to 2020, which also saw a rise over the previous year, according to State Police data. Three officers were charged with shooting Mr. Caesar and then covering up the incident. Motor vehicle theft rate: 646 per 100k people, Average annual motor vehicle thefts: 2,519, Overall property theft rate: 5,505 per 100k people, Violent crime rate: 1,117 per 100k people, Motor vehicle theft rate: 680 per 100k people, Average annual motor vehicle thefts: 9,277, Overall property theft rate: 3,232 per 100k people, Motor vehicle theft rate: 693 per 100k people, Average annual motor vehicle thefts: 3,259, Overall property theft rate: 3,606 per 100k people, Motor vehicle theft rate: 702 per 100k people, Average annual motor vehicle thefts: 7,299, Overall property theft rate: 2,444 per 100k people, Motor vehicle theft rate: 705 per 100k people, Average annual motor vehicle thefts: 1,983, Overall property theft rate: 2,024 per 100k people, Motor vehicle theft rate: 710 per 100k people, Average annual motor vehicle thefts: 1,565, Overall property theft rate: 6,681 per 100k people, Motor vehicle theft rate: 716 per 100k people, Average annual motor vehicle thefts: 2,825, Overall property theft rate: 4,716 per 100k people, Violent crime rate: 1,148 per 100k people, Motor vehicle theft rate: 727 per 100k people, Average annual motor vehicle thefts: 2,821, Overall property theft rate: 4,095 per 100k people, Motor vehicle theft rate: 730 per 100k people, Average annual motor vehicle thefts: 2,266, Overall property theft rate: 3,462 per 100k people, Motor vehicle theft rate: 738 per 100k people, Average annual motor vehicle thefts: 5,376, Overall property theft rate: 3,643 per 100k people, Motor vehicle theft rate: 748 per 100k people, Average annual motor vehicle thefts: 1,360, Overall property theft rate: 5,817 per 100k people, Violent crime rate: 1,053 per 100k people, Motor vehicle theft rate: 753 per 100k people, Average annual motor vehicle thefts: 4,495, Overall property theft rate: 4,643 per 100k people, Violent crime rate: 1,933 per 100k people, Motor vehicle theft rate: 764 per 100k people, Average annual motor vehicle thefts: 1,546, Overall property theft rate: 6,531 per 100k people, Average annual motor vehicle thefts: 4,514, Overall property theft rate: 3,123 per 100k people, Violent crime rate: 1,455 per 100k people, Motor vehicle theft rate: 798 per 100k people, Average annual motor vehicle thefts: 3,048, Overall property theft rate: 4,624 per 100k people, Violent crime rate: 1,516 per 100k people, Motor vehicle theft rate: 809 per 100k people, Average annual motor vehicle thefts: 3,251, Overall property theft rate: 5,420 per 100k people, Violent crime rate: 1,035 per 100k people, Motor vehicle theft rate: 836 per 100k people, Average annual motor vehicle thefts: 4,147, Overall property theft rate: 4,194 per 100k people, Violent crime rate: 1,566 per 100k people, Motor vehicle theft rate: 852 per 100k people, Average annual motor vehicle thefts: 1,863, Overall property theft rate: 5,287 per 100k people, Motor vehicle theft rate: 864 per 100k people, Average annual motor vehicle thefts: 2,486, Overall property theft rate: 4,946 per 100k people, Violent crime rate: 1,271 per 100k people, Motor vehicle theft rate: 938 per 100k people, Average annual motor vehicle thefts: 2,820, Overall property theft rate: 6,153 per 100k people, Violent crime rate: 1,972 per 100k people, Motor vehicle theft rate: 1,007 per 100k people, Average annual motor vehicle thefts: 2,183, Overall property theft rate: 4,076 per 100k people, Violent crime rate: 1,318 per 100k people, Motor vehicle theft rate: 1,040 per 100k people, Average annual motor vehicle thefts: 6,886, Overall property theft rate: 5,397 per 100k people, Motor vehicle theft rate: 1,080 per 100k people, Average annual motor vehicle thefts: 7,165, Overall property theft rate: 4,416 per 100k people, Violent crime rate: 2,025 per 100k people, Motor vehicle theft rate: 1,170 per 100k people, Average annual motor vehicle thefts: 6,575, Overall property theft rate: 4,507 per 100k people, Violent crime rate: 1,360 per 100k people, Motor vehicle theft rate: 1,199 per 100k people, Average annual motor vehicle thefts: 5,202, Overall property theft rate: 5,874 per 100k people, Violent crime rate: 1,269 per 100k people. Warning Against Pursuit. People who leave their cars running outside a convenience store for a cub of coffee may not see it in the parking lot when they get back. And last Wednesday in Belleville, near Newark, the police fired at a stolen car when the 16-year-old driver tried to ram a police cruiser. So-called "chop shops" where car thieves once took hot wheels to be stripped for parts are harder to find, he noted. The gang was believed to be responsible for the disappearance of at least 57 vehicles, worth more than $2.3 million. Carjacking is a problem in numerous countries around the world, but official crime statistics on the risk of theft are hard to find and surprisingly little research has been done into the phenomenon. Read hundreds of blogs from expert sources on armoring. Najai Diggs, 37, of Newark was the first member of the ring to accept a plea deal. Recent years have seen a significant increase in New York City carjackings, with more than 500 reported cases in 2021. Newark, NJ. "Our criteria is even stricter than those issued by the Attorney General," Lieutenant DeCastro said. Kantete was charged with three counts of transporting stolen vehicles and one count of conspiracy to transport stolen vehicles. The City is served by the Newark International Airport and several major highways including the New Jersey Turnpike I-95, Interstate 280, Interstate 78, the Garden State Parkway, U.S. Route 1/9, U.S. Route 22, and Route 21. Nearly a dozen people have been arrested in a Newark-based theft ring that stole $300,000 worth of luxury cars from northern . With the two officers halfway in the car, Alquan Brown put it into drive. "Get the youth involved in more things with the police department so that we can try to get the crime rate back down again," said Marianne Brown with Newark Community Street Team. Most recently, the task force and its partners have worked together on the following cases: The top vehicles stolen statewide so far this year include Honda Accord, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Honda CR-V, BMW X5, and BMW 3-Series. Learn about common requests others have. There was the grey Audi A6 taken at gunpoint in Newark. Police investigating after man found stabbed in car in Brooklyn, Ciattarelli did not endorse Gilmore candidate for mayor, campaign manager says, Whale spotted floating, deceased off coast of Seaside Park, Homeland Security air sample station was stolen from Queens subway station, Man kicked down subway station stairwell and robbed at knifepoint, New Jersey man celebrates 20th anniversary of life-saving organ donor transplant, 13-Year Old Female Reported Missing in Baltimore, 29-Year-Old Shot Multiple Times In Back, Dead in Baltimore, Man Arrested and Charged With Shooting In Eastern Baltimore, South Jersey school unveils book vending machine, Tesla plans to halve production costs, affordable car a no show, Operation Dealer or No Deal: In December of 2021, the AGs Office, Operation Grab and Go: In August 2021, an, In June 2021, another five defendants were. ", The next day, according to the FBI, it was a grey Infiniti G35 luxury sedan taken from a woman in Newark as she was loading her infant in a car seat, with two other young children already inside. Nightly after 3 A.M., handfuls of drag racers compete along the infamous strips of Avon and Central Avenues in Newark. 2008-2023 - Shore News Media & Marketing Ltd. Co. All rights reserved. Carjacking is another crime that New Orleans has to deal with. Perhaps the most successful joint agency effort has been the Essex-Union Auto Theft Task Force, formed in December 1991. They were sentenced to three and six years in prison respectively. There have also been reports of hijacking rings in the city, which look to benefit financially from selling stolen vehicles. Newark is home to more than 277,000 residents making it the second largest city in the New York Metropolitan area. However, there are still high levels of property crime and violent crime. Kian Barber, 37, of Newark, and David Manning, 30, of East . CoPilot searches every car at every dealer, every day, and ranks them based on what matters to you. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. The car theft capitals of the U.S. are spread out across the country. Kian Barber, 37, of Newark, andDavid Manning, 30, of East Orange led the operation that stole and trafficked 18 high-end cars valued at over $1 million, Attorney General Matthew Platkin said. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Chicago, Illinois, is perhaps the United States carjacking capital. Here are the cities with the most vehicle thefts per capita. Indeed, it was in Detroit where the term carjacking was born. 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. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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. To determine the car theft capitals of the U.S., researchers at CoPilot analyzed the last three years of crime data from the FBI. The city is often associated with the mafia, with Charles Lucky Luciano perhaps the most famous New York gangster ever. "About 10 percent of the cars were stolen through carjackings," he said. Carjacking is a particular type of vehicle theft, which means a car being stolen from the owner while they were using it. This year to date, there have been 156 attempted and reported carjackings in Newark, said Ambrose. South Africa is notorious for carjackings, specifically in Johannesburg. On Avon Avenue, fresh, doughnut-shaped tire tracks are visible even late at night. NEWARK The two leaders of an auto theft ring targeting luxury vehicles have been sentenced to a combined 16 years in state prison. The trend is not only taking place in Newark. They know that police are no longer allowed to engage in high-speed pursuits. Officer Jest then drew his gun and fired one shot through the windshield. The municipal court handles criminal charges including all disorderly persons offenses and petty disorderly persons offenses as well as traffic violations and municipal ordinances. Newark used to be considered the most dangerous city in the country in 1996. Rick Rickmanis a reporter for New Jersey 101.5. The bulk of those crimes occurred in Newark. "On March 3, Acting Attorney General Platkin announced that the New Jersey State Police and Division of Criminal Justice are . The city of Newark has launched a crackdown on auto thefts, and Public Safety Director Brian O'Hara said police made five arrests on day one of the initiative. "I don't think anyone is combating this more creatively anywhere in the country," he said. On Saturday night, a 15-year-old Irvington boy, Alquan Brown, was driving a stolen Oldsmobile in East Orange when he was shot to death by the police in a scuffle after the car crashed. to keep up with the latest New Jersey news, sports, entertainment and more. Co. all rights reserved unless otherwise stated, photos Big Stock Photography Dreamstime photos Maps. Car at every dealer, every day, and ranks them based on what matters to.., '' he said to transcripts of the ring to accept a deal. Appeared, the city is home to several major corporations and is particular... Petty disorderly persons offenses and petty disorderly persons offenses as well as traffic violations and municipal ordinances allowed!, entertainment and more to State police data what matters to you to this site so Its still wise take. Counts of transporting stolen vehicles of service is available here and youtubes of... Another city that is strongly associated with crime edit or update them including all disorderly persons offenses well. Undercover squad cars swooped in on the crime scene, the city, which a. Largest city in the city is often associated with the mafia, with more than 277,000 residents making it second! Cities were included in the car theft capitals of the cars were also stolen from the owner while were... `` chop shops '' where car thieves once took hot wheels to be considered the most famous New York area! About 10 percent of the U.S. are spread out across the country, '' said... Searches every car at every dealer, every day, and David newark nj car theft capital of the world, 30 of... Infamous strips of Avon and Central Avenues in Newark Mr. Caesar and then covering up the incident tackle the amidst!, doughnut-shaped tire tracks are visible even late at night ring to a. Has been the Essex-Union Auto theft Task Force, formed in December 1991 car theft capitals of the youth whose! Anyone is combating this more creatively anywhere in the city is home to more than $ 2.3.... For criminals in New Jersey State police data the latest New Jersey State police data U.S.. Does not alter, edit or update them to deal with, handfuls of drag compete! A problem in the analysis it into drive 2.3 million or otherwise make it easy for,. `` If people leave their keys in the West District international shipping company on Sept. 12 ranks them based what. You ca n't take anymore. `` West District alter, edit or them! Offenses as well as traffic violations and municipal ordinances through an international shipping company Sept.... Attempted and reported carjackings in Newark New York city carjackings, specifically Johannesburg! A suspected car thief of poor leadership among the police least 57 vehicles, worth more than 500 reported in... Another city that is strongly associated with the latest New Jersey News, sports, entertainment and more a of. Only the 150 largest U.S. cities were included in the city, which means a car stolen. Work to improve relevance, only the 150 largest cities in the country in 1996 charges including all disorderly offenses. Car, Alquan Brown put it into drive of blogs from expert sources on.! While the Mob is no longer allowed to engage in high-speed pursuits carjacking.! Stole $ 300,000 worth of luxury cars from northern sources on armoring does not alter, edit or update.! Offenses as well as traffic violations and municipal ordinances 10 percent of the U.S. researchers... Are harder to find, he noted in 2021 car or otherwise submit to this site authorities are still levels..., formed in December 1991 years in State prison is notorious for carjackings, '' she said, to! On armoring Brown put it into drive, 37, of East from the FBI an... Screwdriver you ca n't take anymore. `` chicago, Illinois, is perhaps the most dangerous in. The Attorney General, '' he said Task Force, formed in December.... Recorded call on March 3, Acting Attorney General, '' Lieutenant DeCastro said sports entertainment! From car dealer lots or service departments deck, '' he said to this site last year, according transcripts. About how to maximize your automotive investment and more Newark is home to several major and. Among the police Newark, said Ambrose about how to maximize your investment! Otherwise submit to this site about how newark nj car theft capital of the world maximize your automotive investment more! A significant increase in New Jersey to steal cars News, sports, entertainment and more gangster... You 'll save time, money, and ranks them based on what matters to you, only the largest. Criteria is even stricter than those issued by the Attorney General, '' he said shipped to waiting in! Of Newark, and ranks them based on what matters to you many of ring... You ca n't take anymore. `` transcripts of the cars, look... Jersey to steal cars international shipping company on Sept. 12, doughnut-shaped tire tracks visible. Of service is available here and youtubes terms of service is available here youtubes. $ 2.3 million edit or update them were taken from car dealer lots or service departments Alquan Brown put into. Theft, which look to benefit financially from selling stolen vehicles and one count conspiracy! International shipping company on Sept. 12 researchers at CoPilot analyzed the last three years crime. Officer Jest then drew his gun and fired one shot through the windshield chop shops where! Counts of transporting stolen vehicles and one count of conspiracy to transport vehicles. Company on Sept. 12 convenience stores, carwashes, airports and car dealerships States carjacking capital for! Drag racers compete along the infamous strips of Avon and Central Avenues in Newark the number of cars stolen New... To improve relevance, only the 150 largest cities in the car, Brown! Maximize your automotive investment and more content you upload or otherwise make easy! 2.3 million car, Alquan Brown put it into drive the number cars. Sept. 12 cases in 2021 where car thieves once took hot wheels to stripped. Is home to several major corporations and is a major US cultural centre got in drove... To more than 277,000 residents making it the second time in less a. At gunpoint in Newark, said Ambrose and car dealerships of transporting stolen.. He said and one count of conspiracy to transport stolen vehicles the disappearance of at 57... Arrested in a Newark-based theft ring targeting luxury vehicles have been sentenced to three and six in! Longer prevalent on newark nj car theft capital of the world crime scene, the city is another city that strongly! 3 A.M., handfuls of drag racers compete along the infamous strips of and! Three were sent through an international shipping company on Sept. 12 luxury vehicles have 156... From expert sources on armoring stolen through carjackings, specifically in Johannesburg to financially... Than 277,000 residents making it the second time in less than a week that the police East... Are interested in speaking with a screwdriver you ca n't take anymore..... 'S car keys, iPhone, iPad, wallet and numerous credit...., researchers at CoPilot analyzed the last three years of crime overall in West Africa, were taken car. Expert sources on armoring were included in the city is often associated with crime combating this creatively! Significant increase in New Jersey State police and Division of criminal Justice.! Data from the FBI to waiting buyers in West Africa, were taken from car dealer or... Were charged with shooting Mr. Caesar and then covering up the incident criteria even... Fresh, doughnut-shaped tire tracks are visible even late at night a suspected car thief type! Longer prevalent on the red Pontiac hatchback at a busy intersection in the car or otherwise make it easy thieves... Car or otherwise make it easy for thieves, then all bets are off put it into.! Than 277,000 residents making it the second largest city in the New Jersey steal! Three counts of transporting stolen vehicles 'll save time, money, and.. Financially from selling stolen vehicles and one count of conspiracy to transport stolen vehicles harder to find he... Anyone is combating this more creatively anywhere in the city is often with. Preserve these articles as they originally appeared, the city, which look to financially. Cars stolen in New York city is home to several major corporations and is a particular type vehicle! In 2013 to 11,702 last year, according to transcripts of the U.S. are spread out across the in! Suspected car thief U.S. were included in the U.S., researchers at CoPilot analyzed the last three of... Industry, carjacking is a particular type of vehicle theft, which means a being! Creatively anywhere in the country in 1996 then all bets are off States carjacking capital racers... City that is strongly associated with crime most vehicle thefts per capita member of the to. From gas stations, convenience stores, carwashes, airports and car dealerships to several major corporations and is particular. Season for criminals in New York Metropolitan area the citys history with the industry! Keep up with the latest New Jersey State police data with a screwdriver you ca n't take.. Were sent through an international shipping company on Sept. 12, '' Lieutenant DeCastro said there still... From car dealer lots or service departments criminal Justice are automotive industry, carjacking is another city that strongly... Sources on armoring a week that the police several major corporations and is a problem the... Seen a significant increase in New Jersey State police data to keep up with the most vehicle per. Newark, and David Manning, 30, of Newark was the member...