Car Burglaries Went Up 35 Percent In 2021 In Bridgewater

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Bridgewater, 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 27.27 percent increase over 2020 in motor vehicle(MV) burglariesand a 2.17 percent decrease in stolen cars.

Here is a breakdown of the statistics in Bridgewater:

• 2020: Stolen Cars: 46, MV Burglaries (to include all attempts): 66
• 2021: Stolen Cars: 45, MV Burglaries (to include all attempts): 84
• 2022 (to date as of March 24,2022): Stolen Cars: 17, MV Burglaries (to include all attempts): 8

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

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

The increase in car thefts is not isolated to Bridgewater, 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.

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here. Don't miss local and statewide announcements. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.