New Westfield Mayor Addresses Rise In Car Thefts, Home Break-Ins Around Community

WESTFIELD, NJ — The recent rise in high-end vehicle thefts and home break-ins around Westfield opened the discussion at Tuesday night's Town Council meeting.

New Mayor Jeremy Berman led off his second meeting at the helm of the Town by acknowledging the level of attention with which officials are handling the growing number of cases.

"I want to be very clear, we are taking this situation seriously, and we are treating these with the urgency they deserve," Berman said.

He went on to reference multiple situations over the last few months where Westfield Police were able to make arrests, including one along Coolidge Street.

On Nov. 8, 2025, two people were able to get away with an estimated $15,000 worth of stolen items after breaking into a home and attempting to steal two cars. One of the recurring themes in these cases, as Berman also alluded to on Tuesday, is thieves breaking into homes first to try to steal key fobs to get into vehicles.

"I've spoken to several residents...and have been kept fully apprised of all activity by Chief Battiloro," added Berman.

A public safety meeting was also held on Tuesday night with Westfield Police Chief Christopher Battiloro and other professional staff in attendance.

Town Administrator Jim Gildea recapped the discussion and outlined the current state of the Westfield Police force while addressing Council. He reminded the room that the department is at its highest-level of staffing in its history, along with the highest level of resources it has had.

"I've lived in Town since 1979, my house, where my parents still live today, was broken into in 1985. I still remember it...these are not things you forget lightly," Gildea added.

He went on to highlight the different technologies that the department is currently using, including 25 plate readers, which they are actively moving around to respond to more strategic locations.

According to Gildea, the Town has the third largest number of these readers in the county behind Elizabeth and Rahway.

An officer is also now on staff who utilizes drones to address different situations that arise.

Another concern was the ability to bring in supplemental staff and additional patrols in certain highlighted areas of Town.

"We do that...you might not have seen us there, but that's by design...it can be anywhere in Town," Gildea added.

This includes undercover overnight patrols.

Berman said he will be talking directly to Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill to highlight this heightened threat and the potential need for additional resources.

"I acknowledge the fear and anger that some of our residents are feeling," said Berman. "For those who have been directly impacted, I am truly sorry for what you have experienced."

Gildea also highlighted the ongoing rise in theft county-wide over the last few months, and spoke to one of the reasons he believes it has been a constant concern.

"Union County is unique...we are very close to Elizabeth, to other towns that are close to the ports of Newark...it's easy to get cars out...shipped out," he added.

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