Theft Concerns Raised By Long Valley Police Amid Crime Spike

LONG VALLEY, NJ — In light of the ongoing vehicle theft problem that has afflicted many residents in and around Morris County, members of the Washington Township Police Department recently spoke out about prevention methods.

The current vehicle theft issue is affecting communities throughout Morris County and New Jersey, with the neighboring community of Chatham appearing to be the most frequently targeted.

Washington Township police recently declared that simple tasks such as securing vehicles, structures, and valuables, and not exposing yourself to potentially dangerous situations or conditions are the best crime prevention methods.

"It worked back in the day and is still important today. With Crime Prevention we are minimizing the opportunities for criminals to victimize us," police said.

Law enforcement officers and elected officials throughout the county have expressed dissatisfaction not only with the increasing number of thefts but also with the brazen manner in which they are occurring.

Police have noted that many of these thefts involve high-end vehicles taken directly from driveways because owners leave them unlocked with the key fob inside

Read more: Car Theft Rings Escalate To Other Crimes In Morris Co., Police Say

During a recent crime forum Chatham Township Sgt. Muta Blanford said, "We're not trying to 'victim shame', but 99% of victims leave their door unlocked. No criminal today knows how to hot wire a car."

Despite the fact that police have not publicly disclosed information about successful theft attempts in the township, they want to remind all residents to be cautious and report any suspicious activity.

"Any suspicious activity that you observe needs to be reported immediately. You know what's normal in your neighborhoods, if it seems suspicious, it likely is," police said.