Juvenile Car Thefts Addressed By Chatham Police Chief

CHATHAM, NJ — Police Chief Brian Gibbons spoke at a recent borough council meeting about a massive statewide string of car thefts that have impacted New Jersey communities in the past few months.

On Tuesday, the Chatham Governing Body approved a resolution in support of bipartisan legislation that increases penalties for those who steal or receive vehicles, as well as those who recruit minors to do so.

Residents have been urging Chatham officials to address the growing problem, as well as to apply pressure on lawmakers in Trenton to create harsher penalties. During Tuesday's meeting, local resident Freddie Bicknese spoke out, requesting that more than a proclamation be done.

"We need to do more than we are doing. Of course, I think everybody would agree with the proclamation that you all read tonight and that's great, but it really isn't going to do much except add to the chorus of rational people who would agree that we need to do something on a state level," Bicknese said.

The signed proclamation stated support for the piece of legislature that Senators Richard Codey (D-27) and Anthony Bucco (D-25) introduced earlier this year.

Bicknese argued that the borough could do more to help with the problem, such as passing ordinances and increasing community outreach. While Bicknese praised the Smart911 texting program, he also suggested that mail flyers be distributed in order to reach residents who are not on the texting list.

"The awareness of our campaign that started in around February to alert the residents to auto theft has had a pretty resounding effect at reducing the progression of this problem that we are dealing with," Gibbons said.

According to Bucco, it is up to lawmakers to take corrective action in order to provide law enforcement with the tools they require when suspects are placed under arrest. "The legislation that Senator Cody and I worked on and ultimately filed would do just that."

The legislation focused on juveniles because, according to Bucco, they discovered that gangs and car theft enterprises are going to these juveniles and recruiting them to steal the car because they discovered that there is no consequence for a first or second offense.

He likened it to the drug epidemic, saying that if penalties for juvenile car theft remain lax, they will be drawn back into what could be a life of crime.

"I do agree that the use of juveniles is not only disturbing but proliferating and it is a problem. I am grateful for these types of resolutions and I'm grateful for elected officials at all levels that are pursuing changes that may help mitigate the use of juveniles," Gibbons said.

Gibbons expressed optimism, stating that Chatham Borough accounted for approximately 23 percent of all stolen vehicles in Morris County in early 2022, owing in part to its proximity to Route 24.

However, as a result of increased police and community collaboration, particularly residents' increased diligence in locking their car doors and removing all valuables from inside, that figure has been reduced to around 7.6 percent.

"We have only had two motor vehicles stolen since July 8. That's a huge improvement. We've had a number of attempts, just as a point of example in the past week we've had three attempts where vehicles that were stolen that came into town… within minutes of them coming into town they were confronted by police officers," Gibbons said.

According to police, Main Street is the primary location for stolen motor vehicles, accounting for approximately 40 percent of all cars stolen in 2022. "Please make sure if you are jumping out to get ice cream, or getting something to eat or a cup of coffee at one of the bagel shops, please take your keys with you and shut the car off."

Police are looking to increase license plate readers in the Borough, as part of a joint effort with the Borough of Madison, Morris County and the New Jersey State Police Department.