'Appalling' Crime At Edison Grocery Prompts Call For Tougher Laws

EDISON, NJ — There was an assault and attempted carjacking at a township grocery store on Friday, and an outraged Mayor Sam Joshi says the incident is galvanizing him to call for stricter penalties and more accountability for crimes involving juveniles.

The attack at the Patel Brothers store at 1681 Oak Tree Road took place at about 5 p.m. Friday and is currently under investigation by Edison police.

Anyone with information about this incident should contact Detective Chris Paone of the Edison Police Burglary Unit at 732-248-7413.

The victim in the attempted carjacking, the son of the store owner, tried to fight off three men who police say attempted to steal his SUV at a supermarket parking lot, according to a report on News 12 New Jersey. The victim was not injured and immediately called police, the report said.

Joshi on Monday called the incident "an appalling robbery and attempted carjacking in broad daylight."

He said he is "breaking ranks with his Democratic peers by demanding stricter criminal penalties and more accountability for juveniles who are convicted of serious crimes, including home invasion, robbery, and auto theft."

He said he is calling on the governor and state legislature to enact tougher laws, to detain repeat offenders pending trial, to allow greater discretion for bail sentencing, to change the classification to increase the severity of these crimes and to address the backlog that allows prosecutors to impose longer criminal sentences for juveniles.

“The rise in juvenile crimes demands our urgent attention. While our great police department is doing all it can to catch those responsible for committing crimes, too often the offenders end up being released without consequences," Joshi said.

According to a 2023 report from the Council on Criminal Justice, motor vehicle theft is often described "as a crime committed by youth and young people (including people who watched videos on how to steal cars on TikTok)." The council discussed whether this was the case and, if so, "whether motor vehicle theft was emerging as a “keystone” crime – a type of crime used in the commission of other crimes."

Joshi said the township has implemented a number of new public safety initiatives, but is limited by state policies:

"Our police department and courts are being undermined and compromised by state policy and inaction,” he said.

Joshi and his administration have initiated a series of comprehensive public safety measures, he said, including:

• Increased police patrolling: The Edison Police Department has been directed to increase patrolling three to four times throughout the town. The enhanced surge in the expanded police force of 189 officers aims to deter criminals from endangering neighborhoods and creates a safer environment for all residents.
• New technology: The administration is using "state-of-the-art technology to curtail crime effectively," he said. This technology has proven "highly effective and will expand with several new locations throughout town." More than 80 license plate readers have been strategically installed throughout Edison to track stolen vehicles and license plates, allowing for the interception of criminal activity before it occurs. Since the program’s inception in January 2022, there have been over 500 alerts to officers that have helped deter criminal activity, intercept crime before it occurs, and aid investigations to assist with arrests/summonses, the township said.
• New, advanced 9-1-1 system: An advanced 9-1-1 system has been installed, enabling dispatchers to send a link to see real-time video from distress callers. This innovative system ensures that the police department gains critical information before arriving at the scene, enhancing response and situational awareness.
• Creation of a new "Street Crimes Unit": The Police Department has created and implemented a Street Crimes Unit that has been instrumental in preventing auto thefts and burglaries.
• Increased total manpower: Thirty-two new officers have been hired in the past 18 months, providing the Edison Police Department with additional personnel needed to perform vital public safety functions. The mayor will soon expand the department to 196 officers, the largest in one decade.

Joshi's office said he attended the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington, D.C. where he spoke to state and federal lawmakers about the necessity for police officers and courts to have the authority to charge and prosecute individuals posing a threat to the community.

His office also said he participated in a panel on policing, which provided him with the opportunity to speak to and learn from other experts in the field of public safety.

“Public safety is a collective responsibility. It begins with supporting our police officers and empowering our communities, which is why it’s imperative that we demand legislative action to punish juvenile offenders more severely. It's time to stop coddling criminals and start protecting our communities,” Joshi said.