How Secure Is Your Home Against Theft? Hazlet Police Can Tell You

HAZLET, NJ — A new program by Hazlet police is taking a proactive stance against car thefts and home burglaries, through a home security assessment the town is offering residents.

Announced Friday, the Hazlet Police Department can give residents a free review of the security in their own homes by a township officer trained in security issues, Police Chief Ted Wittke said.

“We cannot rely on enforcement alone to combat what is arguably New Jersey’s number one crime that is affecting almost every community,” said Wittke.

And he pointed out some security lapses homeowners might not even be aware of.

For example, you may have a security camera on your porch or elsewhere. But do you keep the audio on so you can hear someone on your property at night?

You have garage windows that lock. But is the hardware in the locked position?

It's these sorts of easy-to-correct fixes that can make a real difference in discouraging car thefts and home burglaries, Wittke said.

Wittke's comments came at a press conference on Friday morning at a resident's home, the Auletta family.

The family opened their home to lots of law enforcement Friday morning, including Wittke, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago, County Sheriff Shaun Golden and the head of the Monmouth County Police Chiefs Association Chief Mike Kelly of Oceanport. Others, including Hazlet Mayor Michael Sachs, were there to see the demonstration of the program.

The town has already conducted a five-week pilot program, reaching out to 350 residents to offer them the free security assessment. The assessment is completely voluntary. It can be outdoors only or indoors, too - again all voluntary.

Lisa Auletta said her home was one of those visited by police.

She said Lt. Chris Acevedo, who said he knew the Aulettas from their children's sports teams, proposed the idea to have the assessment. She and her husband Rocco took him up on it.

"In a week we made adjustments," she said, based on the recommendations from the inspection.

"I hope more people will take the opportunity to protect themselves from possible intruders," she added.

The program comes in response to what has been a rash of car thefts in the state, especially of luxury cars.

Sheriff Shaun Golden said that even though recent statistics show cars thefts have declined by about 30 percent, the decline is from an all-time high, he noted.

And sometimes attempted car thefts become a more threatening home burglary in which residents have been confronted by thieves who enter their homes through the door to the garage.

Often juveniles are employed in the schemes "and scout out luxury cars," said Chief Kelly of Oceanport. "They have gotten very brazen," he said.

Police in every township in the area have reported such scenarios - Holmdel, Marlboro, Manalapan and more.

So that prompted Hazlet's new program. While not unique, Wittke said, it's a tool that can take police response "to the next level."

He said the home security review is voluntary and private, and just takes 15 minutes

With about 7,300 households in Hazlet, Wittke hopes to visit at least 1,500 additional homes by the end of the year.

“We will continue to solicit our residents in allowing us to perform this preventative program, which in turn will make our community a safer place to reside," he said.

Starting now, interested homeowners can invite a Hazlet Police officer to their home to survey their property. The officer will create a free customized Home Security Assessment Report on paper for the homeowner. It will be done on the spot with action points about how to prevent break-ins and auto thefts.

Interested homeowners can sign up on the HazletPD.org website for an appointment.

Recent car theft statistics

The police department provided some numbers about the extent of the car theft problem, both in Monmouth County and in Hazlet:

• Since 2021, Monmouth County has reported approximately 303 luxury car thefts. In 22 percent of those instances, the suspects entered the residence to search for keys to a vehicle.
• During that period, Hazlet Township experienced six luxury car thefts. In half of those incidents, thieves brazenly entered the residence at night to look for keys while the residents were sleeping.

The Monmouth County Prosecutor and other officials came out to support the Hazlet Operation Safe Neighborhoods initiative.

"It’s no secret that throughout the state, incidents involving motor vehicles being stolen from private residences have become more frequent, brazen, and risky during recent years,” Santiago said.

He said the Hazlet program "offers an easy, effective mechanism through which local homeowners can learn how to best protect themselves and their property.”

And he said a first defense against car theft is to lock your car and remove the key fob.

He noted yesterday that two-thirds of cars stolen were entered with the fobs inside.

What the security check involves

Wittke, along with several other officers, have extensive training and certifications in crime prevention, security and risk assessments through the American Crime Prevention Institute as well as Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service.

To devise the home security checklist, they drew upon that training and the experience of conducting security assessments for the Hazlet school district. For the past five years, the Hazlet Police Department has provided comprehensive risk assessments for the Hazlet School District’s eight schools.

Hazlet police have also interviewed other police departments that have experienced higher rates of break-ins to gain latest information on how thieves are accessing homes.

Every free Home Security Assessment Report reviews layers of security and provides an objective
evaluation of a resident’s existing security measures, identifies areas of security weakness, and provides options to consider for home security improvements.

The 15- to 30-minute typical Home Security Assessment Report includes:

• Discussion with the homeowner about current crime trends.
• Interviews with the homeowner to gain an understanding of security concerns, past security problems and daily activities at the home.
• Survey of the exterior perimeter of site and home, including examination of site boundaries, perimeter fencing, landscaping, security lighting and signage.
• Survey of interior of home if necessary, which is also completely voluntary.
• A review of physical security devices, including doors, windows, safes, and lock hardware.
• A review of security systems, including intrusion alarm systems, panic alarm systems, video surveillance systems and security intercom systems.
• Identification of likely security risks and potential threats.
• Distribution of confidential Home Security Assessment Report on paper.

Hazlet residents can visit the police department website to request a security assessment. The department said it will do its best to accommodate the days and times requested. Appointments will be conducted on a first-come, first-served basis.