New Shooting, Car Theft Data Released In NJ Shows 'Historic' Numbers

NEW JERSEY — Shootings and car thefts are down in New Jersey, with the former reaching a “historic low” from last year’s totals, authorities announced this week.

According to state public safety officials, 778 victims suffered gunshot injuries in New Jersey in 2024. That’s a 16 percent drop from 2023, which set a previous record for the lowest number of shootings since tracking began in 2009. See Related: NJ Is 'Safest' State In Nation For Violent Crime, Study Says

Authorities said 152 of the 778 shooting victims died – a reduction of 20 percent from 2023.

State officials credited the reduced number of shootings to “targeted and technologically assisted deployment of resources,” as well as “community engagement” and law enforcement partnerships.

The latest crime data was announced Wednesday by Gov. Phil Murphy, Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way, Attorney General Matt Platkin, First Assistant Attorney General Lyndsay Ruotolo, and New Jersey State Police (NJSP) Superintendent Colonel Patrick Callahan.

“Together, we are determined to continue combatting violence and crime as we build a safer, stronger New Jersey for all,” Murphy said.

“While the progress is clear, our commitment to driving crime rates even lower remains resolute,” Callahan agreed. “Together, we will continue to work tirelessly to protect our communities and uphold the safety and security that every resident deserves.”

The number of shootings has been dropping over the past few years in New Jersey, officials noted. In 2023, the 924 victims shot represented a 13 percent decrease over 2022, which improved on a 25 percent decrease from 2021.

Some pundits have pointed out that fatal shootings only make up a small percentage of violent crime, which also includes assaults, rapes, robberies and other serious offenses. Meanwhile, other deadly crimes are committed without the use of firearms, including fatal stabbings and deadly beatings that have taken place across the state in recent years.

The FBI's 2023 year-end report showed that with 93 percent of agencies submitting data, overall violent crime in New Jersey was up about 7.2 percent compared to 2022. Read More: How Safe Are NJ Neighborhoods? Here’s What New FBI Crime Data Shows

However, according to long-term trend data from the FBI, the Garden State has seen a big drop in violent crime over the past decades – especially from levels seen in the 1980s and 1990s.

The following graph from the FBI's crime data explorer shows the overall violent crime rate for New Jersey between January 1985 and December 2023, including homicides, rapes, robberies and aggravated assaults.

BIGGEST NJ CITIES SEE DROP IN MURDERS, SHOOTINGS

This week’s statewide crime data mirrors trends seen in New Jersey’s two largest cities: Newark and Jersey City.

Public safety officials in Newark, which has a population of 304,960, and Jersey City, which has 291,657 residents, recently released their 2024 crime statistics, including homicides and shootings. The numbers are down in both cities, officials reported.

Newark saw a 23 percent decrease in murders and a 9 percent decrease in non-fatal shootings last year. Meanwhile, Jersey City had a 40 percent drop in homicides and a 45 percent decrease in shootings.

The data wasn’t all good news. Newark’s overall violent crime rate – including robberies and aggravated assaults – ticked up 9 percent. In Jersey City, assaults were up 25 percent, rising from 789 to 986. But according to officials in both cities, the recent drop in murders and shootings is an important sign of progress.

• See Related: 2 Largest Cities In NJ Are Seeing Big Drops In Murders, Shootings
• See Related: New Jersey Has 2 Of The Safest Communities In America, U.S. News Says

AUTO THEFTS

Car thefts are also down in New Jersey, authorities reported Wednesday.

In 2024, the total number of stolen motor vehicles decreased by 11 percent from 2023, going from 16,694 down to 14,755 statewide, according to the NJSP’s Regional Operations Intelligence Center.

Auto thefts are now “at the lowest level we’ve seen in three years,” Platkin said.

Officials credited part of the latest drop to the state’s Auto Theft Task Force, which works to recover stolen vehicles and pursue long-term investigations into car theft organizations.

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