Stafford Police Clarify New Strategy To Stop Car Thefts

STAFFORD, NJ — The Stafford Township Police Department’s latest initiative to stop car thefts has gone a step too far for some residents.

The department announced on Tuesday that officers would be checking to see if “high-end” cars are left unlocked at night over the next few weeks. If a car is found unlocked, police will be knocking on doors to notify residents of their unlocked vehicle.

Stafford police have been urging residents to lock their vehicles in recent weeks amid a rise in vehicle thefts. Over the past three months, 25 unlocked vehicles were stolen from Stafford, and nearby in Barnegat and Long Beach townships, according to Police Chief Thomas Dellane.

"What troubles me most about this is the fact that all 25 of those vehicles had their keys or key fobs left in the vehicle, which makes it a very easy crime of opportunity," Dellane said in a mayor’s briefing on Monday. Read more: Stafford Police Chief Addresses Rise In Car Thefts

The department’s announcement of the new initiative on social media attracted support from many residents, though several criticized the department’s method for entering residents’ property without permission and for only targeting high-end vehicles.

Several residents cited concerns about the department dedicating time and resources to this initiative over pursuing other issues in town.

In response to the criticism on social media, Police Chief Tom Dellane issued a statement on Wednesday detailing the department’s new strategy for checking unlocked cars.

“First and foremost, the members of the Stafford Township Police Department vigorously safeguard the constitutional rights of all citizens and would never intentionally violate anyone’s rights. Having said that, this initiative DOES NOT involve our officers entering anyone’s vehicle or randomly opening the doors of vehicles,” Dellane said. “Our officers have been trained to use the same tactics that are currently being utilized by the thieves to determine if a vehicle is unlocked with the keys or key fobs in the vehicle. The officers can and will make these observations from the public roadway, and need not enter anyone’s property to conduct this check.”

Dellane said the department is not sharing their specific strategies with the public to prevent people from learning these tactics.

The department is also targeting high-end vehicles because they have been the frequent target of motor vehicle thefts in the area.

According to the department's post on social media, the new initiative does require time from police officers but “does not compare to the time and resources that it takes to fully investigate each and every motor vehicle theft and vehicle burglary that occurs.”

Stafford police are urging residents to establish a "9 p.m. routine," which involves locking doors, windows and vehicles, removing any valuables from vehicles and turning on exterior lights outside.

During the mayor’s briefing, Dellane said most of the car thefts have happened between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m. Dellane is asking residents who see anything unusual or see people walking around late at night to call the police department as quickly as possible.

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