Cops 'Aggressively Policing' Westfield In Effort To Combat Rising Crime

WESTFIELD, NJ — Westfield Police Officers are continuing to "aggressively" police the Town to combat the rise in car and home thefts.

"This police department is aggressively policing this town Every. Single Day. Every. Single. Night," said Westfield Police Chief Christopher Battiloro at the Town Council meeting on Tuesday night.

Resident Tom White spoke during the public comment suggesting the Town Council propose their own laws to legislators to crack down on criminals.

"I think we need to think outside of the box," said White. "We need to do more."

Mayor Shelley Brindle noted that the Town has already been working with lawmakers and proposing laws.

"Home invasions need to be treated more aggressively than auto thefts and that is something we have been talking to legislators too," Brindle said.

Another resident on Lawrence Avenue said only a few months after moving to Westfield from New York City last year there was a home invasion a few doors down.

"I started to notice the scale of this issue and how personal it was becoming for my family. Numerous other instances started occurring one after the other. Someone coming onto our property without permission taking pictures of entries, exits, and cameras. A group of five criminals trespassing on my property attempting to gain entry to my house as they run from police after having stolen a neighbor’s car. Numerous high-speed car chases down our street in the middle of the night. Including one on Father's Day morning that was so loud it woke our 3-year-old on the back side of the house over her sound machine. And countless other break-ins and car thefts in our neighborhood due to the proximity to 22," said the resident. "My wife is scared, my children are scared about scary monsters coming into their house."

• See Related: Vehicle Thefts Rise 60 Percent In 2023 In Westfield

Battiloro addressed the concerns noting that officers have recently been reallocated to have more working overnight due to a rise in car thefts.

"We are aggressively policing this town but unfortunately we are simply displacing the problem. We are simply displacing a problem. We are looking to force it out of our town and force it somewhere else," said Battiloro. "I think policing is one thing but having your prosecutors, having your courts, having your correctional system. All of the elements of the criminal justice system coming together and starting to support our efforts is really what is needed."

Last week, Battiloro and Brindle met with the Union County Prosecutor to discuss the ongoing issues and ask that they aggressively prosecute car thieves.

While criminals are "becoming more and more brazen" Battiloro said his police department's tactics are working.

Westfield Police have engaged in 4 high-speed pursuits in January, one per week. Three of the four pursuits were because the police's License Plate Readers turned up hits for stolen vehicles entering Westfield.

"We are engaging these criminals, we are chasing them out. Knock on wood, thus far this year we have not had a vehicle theft. So I know our officers' efforts are producing results because I see the statistical data," said Battiloro. "We are far more aggressive in our tactics here in Westfield in engaging criminals than they are elsewhere."

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