Chatham Targets Carjackings With New State Funding

CHATHAM, NJ — The Chatham Township Police Department is receiving a $69,194 state grant to fund technology expected to help combat auto theft.

According to New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin, the grant will assist the local police department in funding automated license plate recognition (ALPR) technology at fixed locations within its jurisdiction.

This data helps law enforcement identify, locate and recover stolen vehicles, as well as disrupt auto theft networks and arrest individuals involved in vehicle theft and other violent crimes.

The funding announcement came just one day before three attempted home burglaries in the township.

On Sunday, April 30, suspects attempted to break into one residence on Wickham Way and two residences on Crestwood Drive but were unsuccessful. That same morning, in neighboring Chatham Borough, two vehicles were stolen from a driveway after the adjoining residence was entered, police said.

The funding for the ALPRs will be a "critical component" in the state's strategy to combat auto theft; in fact, the technology has resulted in a 16 percent reduction in the number of vehicles stolen statewide from September 2022 to March 2023, Platkin said.

"Auto theft not only victimizes the owner of the vehicle, but it can also victimize the whole community. Stolen vehicles are often used in the commission of crimes and can be found driving recklessly on our roadways, creating a dangerous environment for everyone," said Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police.

In April 2022, Gov. Phil Murphy announced that he would invest $10 million in federal American Rescue Plan funding for the technology. Some of those funds were made available through a competitive grant process open to all state law enforcement agencies.

Funding decisions were made to ensure the broadest and most comprehensive levels of service coverage possible, taking into account the type of deliverables, desired outcomes and the project's geographical location in relation to crime statistics and data.

The township has been persistent in its efforts to address a troubling crime trend in the community.

Mayor Ashley Felice recently announced that the Chatham Township Police Department received an $809,000 boost to its broadband network, which will improve internet speeds for all first responders.

"Residents across New Jersey deserve to feel safe in their communities," Murphy said. "We have witnessed the success that new technology, including the Automated License Plate Readers, has played in this process, and we are committed to further investing in this cause until the number of auto thefts in our state hit zero."