Car Thefts Went Up 35 Percent In 2021 In Basking Ridge

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Basking Ridge, just like the rest of Somerset County and the state, is seeing a spike in car thefts and burglaries.

In 2021, the township reported a 35.7 percent increase over 2020 in stolen cars and a 55.55 percent decrease in motor vehicle(MV) burglaries.

Here is a breakdown of the statistics in Basking Ridge:

• 2020: Stolen Cars: 14, MV Burglaries (to include all attempts): 45
• 2021: Stolen Cars: 19, MV Burglaries (to include all attempts): 20
• 2022 (to date as of March 17 ,2022): Stolen Cars: 2, MV Burglaries (to include all attempts): 3

Most of these crimes are linked to residents leaving their vehicles unlocked and/or with the keys inside, said Bernards Township Police Chief Michael Shimsky.

"Motor vehicle thefts and burglaries continue to be on the rise and it is not expected to slow down based on the data trends. The vast majority of vehicles that are stolen from the township are those that are left unattended with the key fobs in them making it very easy for someone to enter and drive away," Shimsky told Patch.

Those stolen vehicles are then oftentimes used to commit violent crimes including shootings, many times hours later, according to Shimsky.

"The car thieves strategy is actually quite simple… they will cruise neighborhoods, day or night, and go from car to car until they find one unlocked with the key fob it. With the push to start technology in most high-end cars, they simply start the car and drive away," said Shimsky. "Additionally, officers are prohibited from pursuing stolen vehicles which makes the car thieves exit strategy even more simplified."

The best defense for Basking Ridge residents? Shimsky says to keep vehicles locked at all times and secure key fobs inside the home.

This also applies to vehicles that are parked in garages as well as Bernards Township Police have seen homes entered and vehicles driven right out of the garages.

The increase in car thefts is not isolated to Basking Ridge, as Somerset County, NJ also reported that car thefts were up 22 percent in 2021.

New Jersey also reported a "serious" spike in motor vehicle thefts, Acting Attorney General Matthew Platkin announced March 4. Read More: 'Serious' Spike In NJ Car Thefts, AG Warns

In 2021, there were a total of 14,320 cars stolen in New Jersey, a 22 percent increase from 2020, according to State Police data.

To combat the crime surge, Platkin said he is adding more detectives and prosecutors to the state's Auto Theft Task Force, as well as bringing on board additional police departments from suburban towns across the state. Police officers from Westfield, Warren, Bernards, Middletown and Paramus are already part of the Auto Theft Task Force. These are suburban towns that typically see a high number of car thefts every year.

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