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

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — As car thefts and vehicle crime continue to plague New Jersey, members of Morris County's various police departments have issued public safety warnings, alerting all residents to the growing problem.

Law enforcement officials and elected officials have expressed frustration 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.

"In Morris County, we are fighting this scourge as we do with almost everything, as a team. We know the dangerousness of these actors, we ask that you help by locking your car doors, taking your key fobs into your homes, and working with your neighbors to report anything that appears suspicious," Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon said.

At a recent Chatham Township council meeting, local resident Dan Flynn spoke out about the growing issue, claiming that the council and police needed to do more to address it and possibly even put pressure on Trenton.

"This is a huge problem… It is terrifying to think, and this is coming from speaking to police officers, that some of these individuals might be gang members who have firearms on them as they're driving around our streets while our children are out there," Flynn said.

The current vehicle theft issue is affecting communities all through Morris County and throughout New Jersey.

In recent weeks, police departments throughout the county have posted public warnings, alerting residents of the continuing problem.

According to the Montville Police Department, an alert resident called 911 after noticing a suspicious group of males running from his neighbor's house. Officers from the police department located the vehicle and pursued the men until the chase was turned over to assisting agencies.

The stolen car eventually crashed, and the men were apprehended, police said.

"Because of this observant neighbor, our Township went another night without a crime and the actors were caught. Remember when calling 911 to stay calm, speak clearly, be descriptive and listen to the questions that the dispatcher is asking," Montville Police said.

Recent cases, according to police, indicate a new criminal trend in Morris County. Thieves are now breaking into homes through unlocked doors or windows, forcing their way inside in some cases, in search of vehicle keys.

Police in Florham Park notified residents earlier this month that suspects were seen using the garage door opener to open the garage door to the residence, then entering the home's mudroom before being scared away by the owner's dog.

Sens. Richard Codey (D-27) and Anthony Bucco (D-25) held a news conference earlier this month to crack down on ringleaders, citing an alarming increase in stolen vehicles carried out by auto theft rings that recruit children and teenagers to help pull off their heists.

"The subjects arrested demonstrate an emerging and serious threat, that is, the recruitment of young men or juveniles by older men to work together in conspiracies to commit vehicle thefts and then related crimes. This again demonstrates the need for additional legislation to address this most serious crime trend of a new pathway to a criminal career for a young adult or juvenile," Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll said.

The dramatic rise led New Jersey’s acting attorney general, Matthew Platkin, to form an auto theft task force in March.

The legislation proposed by Codey and state Sen. Anthony Bucco, R-Morris, seeks to increase penalties for car theft and discourage minors from becoming involved in a criminal enterprise.

The proposal also includes specific penalties for those found guilty of participating in a car theft ring including a juvenile. According to lawmakers, it would elevate certain offenses from second-degree to first-degree crimes, effectively doubling the potential sentence.

More than 17,000 vehicles are expected to be stolen in the state this year and according to lawmakers, car thefts have increased by at least 20 percent per year since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Your car is extremely likely to be used in the commission of other serious crimes including shootings and murder, it’s happening every day. That’s the real reason they’re taking them, it’s for their anonymity, during the crime spree, and then disposal. These felons are not joyriders, it’s a criminal enterprise and it's happening every day," Gannon said.