Keep Kids Home, Toms River Police Warn, After Property Damage

TOMS RIVER, NJ — An increase in complaints about unruly teens causing damage to private property in Toms River's beach communities has prompted a blunt message from the police department to parents in other towns: Keep your kids at home.

Multiple reports have come in of kids "congregating and committing offenses in the northern beach section of town," Toms River police said in a message on the department's Facebook page.

The kids are coming from surrounding towns, police said, and are being dropped off or are arriving by Uber, with Normandy Beach and Chadwick Beach seeing the biggest issues.

"We are requesting parents from neighboring jurisdictions not drop their children off into this area due to ongoing issues," police said.

They are increasing patrols in the area to clamp down on the problems, which have included significant property destruction.

"There will be zero tolerance for all offenses, including motor vehicle infractions," the post said. "The Toms River Police Department is committed to protecting the residents of our community as well as their property and will not tolerate disrespectful or destructive behavior."

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