One suspect taken into custody in a stolen vehicle was 24-year-old Rodney Wrice, a suspect in an earlier shooting who was arrested Friday on Quitman Street with a gun in the car. Lieutenant DeCastro said the force concentrates on Newark, since most cars in New Jersey are stolen within 25 miles of the city, and 90 percent of those cars are recovered here. The city has changed substantially since taking an economic downturn after the 1930s when it had almost a half million residents. CoPilot searches every car at every dealer, every day, and ranks them based on what matters to you. Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement John Morton speaks in Newark today. The average car theft rate across all cities in the U.S. is 288 vehicles per 100,000 residents, or about one stolen car per year for every 347 residents.For context, carjackings occur about as often as American drivers buy electric vehicles, which they did at a rate of one new car per 468 drivers in 2021, according to data from Cox Automotive and Statista. Union County Prosecutor Andrew K. Ruotolo, whose office has established a youth academy for first-time juvenile offenders, said that tougher sentencing and community outreach have made a major difference. "So we're asking the public to please lock up your car door, turn the car off, take the keys with you," Brown said. Motor vehicle theft rate: 705 per 100k people; Average annual motor vehicle thefts: 1,983; Overall property theft rate: 2,024 per 100k people . According to data from the New Jersey Regional Operations & Intelligence Center (ROIC), auto theft is up 31 percent in the states so-called CorrStat Region, which represents more than 80 municipalities in northeast New Jersey along the Route 21 corridor, including Newark. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 2008-2023 - Shore News Media & Marketing Ltd. Co. All rights reserved. Copyright 2023 WABC-TV. Follow him on Twitter @TedShermanSL. "It's harder to steal a car," said Anthony Ambrose, Newark's former police director and now chief of detectives for the Essex County Prosecutor's Office. Its A Honda!: Automakers Pursue VTOL Dreams, These Are The 12 Greenest Cars In The U.S. For 2023, Here Are The 12 Environmentally Meanest Vehicles In The U.S. For 2023, Zero Reteams With Huge Design To Create Sci-Fi SR-X Custom Electric Motorcycle, High Prices And Risky Credit May Steer Buyers To Older Used Cars; Dealers, Lenders Adjust. Newark used to be considered the most dangerous city in the country in 1996. The vehicles would then be loaded into shipping containers and sent overseas through the ports in Newark, Baltimore and Norfolk, Va. Last week, 14 people were charged with "using the streets of New York as their own personal auto showroom," in a scheme to steal mint-condition luxury vehicles that were shipped by brokers to clients in West Africa. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Most recently, the task force and its partners have worked together on the following cases: The top vehicles stolen statewide so far this year include Honda Accord, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Honda CR-V, BMW X5, and BMW 3-Series. In this regard, cities with already high levels of car theft might experience further increases this year. Motor vehicle theft per 100k residents is at nearly 500 attempts. Many of the cars, which were shipped to waiting buyers in West Africa, were taken from car dealer lots or service departments. Overall property theft rate: 5,505 per 100k people. He pleaded guilty tosecond-degree conspiracy to commit receiving stolen property and on Jan. 28, 2021, received a five-year prison sentence. This area accounts for 63 percent of the states total motor vehicle thefts. In one afternoon incident in September 2014, a man told police he was sitting in his black Mercedes S550 in the parking lot at Jersey Gardens shopping mall in Elizabeth when a black car pulled up behind his vehicle. The measure, developed by State Attorney General Robert DelTufo last year, has been criticized by the state's Public Advocate for imposing harsh sentences that do not count time spent in jail awaiting trial or sentencing. Acting Attorney General Matt Platkin is making available up to $125,000 in federal Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) funds to bolster resources and capabilities, including law enforcement personnel and equipment purchases. Ted Sherman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, nearly 7 percent of all vehicles reported stolen in 2014 had keys in them, broke up an international carjacking and stolen car trafficking ring, another ring responsible for shipping dozens of stolen and carjacked luxury cars and sports utility vehicles. I write about how to maximize your automotive investment and more. Violent crime rate: 1,117 per 100k people. Jason and Midget are two young, black teenagers living in Newark,New Jersey, the unofficial car theft capital of the world. "Our criteria is even stricter than those issued by the Attorney General," Lieutenant DeCastro said. Car theft is rising; it increased 17% from 2019 to 2021. An East Orange officer, Berkely Jest, stood in front of the car and ordered him to stop, but he did not. The number of cars being stolen in New Jersey, meanwhile, has been on a sharp decline because of anti-theft devices that make it all but impossible to steal a new car without an electronically linked key--making keys and electronic fobs increasingly the primary focus of car thieves these days. The city is trying to persuade teens to steer away from crime. Its rate of car thefts sits at about 573 per 100k residents. Criminal charges and traffic violations can become very complicated and can carry serious penalties if you are found guilty. San Diego,. Learn about the company, mission, and why we exist. New Jersey is the only state where all its counties are classified as metropolitan areas. NEWARK, NJ Five North Jersey men have been arrested for stealing at least a dozen cars, mostly high-end vehicles, and fencing those vehicles, New Jersey Acting Attorney General Matthew J. Modesto is a relatively small town compared to the rest of this list, but it certainly sees a lions share of crime in the region. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). In 2014 11,221 hijackings were reported, and the severity of the situation means it has found its way in literature. Wire transfers totalling less than $56,000 came back from the consignee of the container with the three stolen cars, court records show. And in a separate federal case brought by the U.S. Attorney's office, Hope K. Kantete, 44, of Brooklyn, was sentenced last year to nearly 22 years in prison for her role inanother ring responsible for shipping dozens of stolen and carjacked luxury cars and sports utility vehicles valued at more than $2.5 million from New Jersey to Africa. One teen . Car thefts vary significantly on a geographic level. National averages. The prosecutors said the car then went backward onto the sidewalk and struck a small retaining wall. In 2021, the city saw 800 recorded cases, four times the number from 2015. In recent months, the Auto Theft Task Force and additional federal, state, county, and local law enforcement partners have been collaborating on efforts to reduce auto theft and violent crime across New Jersey. All the latest armoring and security news and information. Kantete, say prosecutors, arranged for legitimate-looking paperwork, shipping manifests and VIN numbers for the three cars, which were subsequently shipped to Tin Can Island, a port in the city of Lagos, Nigeria. "They go to great length to camouflage the cars" as legitimate exports, he said. Garmin DriveCam 76 Review: Finally, A GPS Device With A Built-In Dash Camera, UVEye Provides Automotive MRI For Car Service Customers, Dealers, Review: 2023 Nissan Leaf Remains A Great Inexpensive Electric, Look! Perhaps ironically, considering the citys history with the automotive industry, carjacking is a problem in the city. On Saturday night, a 15-year-old Irvington boy, Alquan Brown, was driving a stolen Oldsmobile in East Orange when he was shot to death by the police in a scuffle after the car crashed. In 2014, a separate investigation led to the arrest of 29 men following a 10-month investigation of a ring that targeted high-end vehicles--including luxury SUVs and cars made by Land Rover, Mercedes Benz, BMW, Honda, Porsche, Jaguar and Aston Martin--that were being shipped overseas. "People who want to steal cars are evolving in their methodology," Honig said. South Africa is notorious for carjackings, specifically in Johannesburg. The cars had a fair market value of $149,000. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Officials have assigned special auto-theft patrols, talked about the problem at numerous community meetings and imposed mandatory sentences for juvenile offenders. Teslas have among the lowest stolen vehicle rates in the world. At our law firm, our attorneys make it a point to challenge the state at every turn to protect our clients rights and keep you well-informed throughout the entire process so you know exactly what is going on. Kian Barber, 37, of Newark, andDavid Manning, 30, of East Orange led the operation that stole and trafficked 18 high-end cars valued at over $1 million, Attorney General Matthew Platkin said. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. In general, Western states report higher rates of motor vehicle theft than those in the Northeast or Midwest. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Jim Florio signed legislation allowing jail terms for first offenders and holding parents financially responsible for the damage done by their joy-riding children. A Complete Breakdown, CV Joint Replacement Cost: Everything You Need To Know, Here Are The Jeep Wrangler Years To Avoid, Toyotas Car Chip Shortage: What It Means For Automakers. This large population and huge traffic corridor makesNewark Municipal Courtone of the busiest courts in the entire state. With the anti-theft technology now built into new cars, the easiest set of wheels to take is now apparently an old one. Year-to-date thefts of the following high-end vehicles have increased significantly compared to 2021; BMW X6, Land Rover Range Rover Sport, Audi Q5, and BMW X3. The national violent crime rate is much lower, at 383 violent crimes per 100,000 people. ", TRENDING: Texas man who corralled tiger roaming loose in Houston neighborhood arrested after high-speed chase, * Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts, Exclusive: Abuse at assisted living facility caught on camera, Teammate facing charges in crash that killed local UGA player, Ice flies off SUV, smashing windshield: 'You could kill somebody'. One pursuing officer, John Young, then approached the car and tried to grab the driver, while another officer, Brian David, leaned through the window on the passenger side to take the car out of gear. In Essex, where most of the carjackings in New Jersey are reported, the number of carjackings and attemped carjackings went from 478 in 2013 to 234 in 2014. Three officers were charged with shooting Mr. Caesar and then covering up the incident. Find NJ.com on Facebook. On Avon Avenue, fresh, doughnut-shaped tire tracks are visible even late at night. "They have gotten better at stealing a car when it's running.". IN THIS ARTICLE. Average annual motor vehicle thefts: 2,519. Just over two weeks ago, a 3-year-old girl was struck and critically injured by a stolen car plowing through a busy Newark intersection. To combat theft, remember common sense steps such as rolling up your windows, locking your car and parking in well-lit areas. The streets of Newark, the biggest city in New Jersey, have been flooded with carjackings in recent years, making it increasingly unsafe to drive in the city. New Orleans was already struggling with some of the highest vehicle theft rates, but things were made even worse in 2006 when hurricane Katrina arrived, causing widespread destruction, disruption, and an economic downturn. Taking the vehicle identification numbers of wrecked cars and "retagging" stolen vehicles with those numbers to change its identity still occurs, he said, but not as often anymore. People who leave their cars running outside a convenience store for a cub of coffee may not see it in the parking lot when they get back. Philadelphia is the largest city in the state of Pennsylvania and the sixth-most populous in the United States, with a population of around 6.2 million people. Police investigating after man found stabbed in car in Brooklyn, Ciattarelli did not endorse Gilmore candidate for mayor, campaign manager says, Whale spotted floating, deceased off coast of Seaside Park, Homeland Security air sample station was stolen from Queens subway station, Man kicked down subway station stairwell and robbed at knifepoint, New Jersey man celebrates 20th anniversary of life-saving organ donor transplant, 13-Year Old Female Reported Missing in Baltimore, 29-Year-Old Shot Multiple Times In Back, Dead in Baltimore, Man Arrested and Charged With Shooting In Eastern Baltimore, South Jersey school unveils book vending machine, Tesla plans to halve production costs, affordable car a no show, Operation Dealer or No Deal: In December of 2021, the AGs Office, Operation Grab and Go: In August 2021, an, In June 2021, another five defendants were. New York City is another city that is strongly associated with crime. In the CorrStat region, thefts of high-end motor vehicles increased 127 percent from . West Africa long a hot-spot for drug trafficking, the illegal diamond trade and other organized crime has become a big market for stolen, high-end cars in recent years, say many in law enforcement. Instead, the vehicles may be used to carry out other crimes or just for joyriding. According to the criminal complaints, Kantete was using a warehouse in Hudson County to temporarily store stolen cars as they were taken off the streets. Newark is home to more than 277,000 residents making it the second largest city in the New York Metropolitan area. In June, Gov. Philadelphias crime rates are contributed to significantly by organized crime in the city, including organized crime families and various gangs. They were sentenced to three and six years in prison respectively. Jason and his neighborhood friends would steal cars and take them for joyrides to pass t See more. Our representatives are available 24/7 to answer your call. Richard K. Fanning of the Newark Police Department said an average of 19 cars is stolen in the city every day, down from about 35 a year ago. At the same time, nobody in that part of the world asks too many questions. In a sense, carjacking is much like a mugging in that the car is taken from its owner by force. To determine the car theft capitals of the U.S., researchers at CoPilot analyzed the last three years of crime data from the FBI. Harsher Sentences for Youths. "Why do you think they do it?" Follow us onFacebook,TwitterandPinterest. Despite all the commercial activity in the city, many of its residents are very poor. As a result, residents have taken to using some extreme defensive measures, including a flamethrower mounted underneath the vehicle. Authorities believe that about 30 percent of those vehicles were obtained through car-jackings, gun-point robberies or theft mostly in and around Newark. The NICB said nearly 7 percent of all vehicles reported stolen in 2014 had keys in them--44,828 cars and trucks. Philadelphia has a problem with auto theft and carjacking, with an increase in reported cases of car thieves in recent years. In other cases passengers or bystanders have been hit by stolen vehicles. Located in the northern portion of Californias Central Valley, Modesto is widely regarded as an area that can be unsafe. While the number of hijacking incidents fell, it rose again in 2010, with the authorities blaming it mostly on young men who stole the vehicles for fun. Researchers also calculated the average annual number of motor vehicle thefts, the overall property theft rate, and the violent crime rate over the same three-year time period. At its center, authorities said, was a Brooklyn woman with lots of contacts in that part of the world; a fence for stolen property known as "the Lady.". Perhaps the most successful joint agency effort has been the Essex-Union Auto Theft Task Force, formed in December 1991. Read hundreds of blogs from expert sources on armoring. Elie Honig, director of the state Division of Criminal Justice, said with a screwdriver no longer the tool of trade for hot-wiring an ignition switch in late-model vehicles, that nature of car theft has been changing in response to technology. Two weeks later, a similar carjacking occurred at The Outlet Collection Mall in Elizabeth when an armed gunman took a victim's black Mercedes S550, ordering him to keep on walking or he would be shot. More often than not, the NICB said the theft of a new car now is the result of someone leaving the keys in the vehicle, or leaving it running unattended. To improve relevance, only the 150 largest cities in the U.S. were included in the analysis. As for carjacking specifically, 1,800 carjackings were reported in Chicago last year, which is by far the highest figure recorded in any United States city. NEWARK The vehicles included high-end luxury SUVs from Porsche, Lexus, Audi stolen or carjacked, then slipped through Port Newark to waiting buyers in places like Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Gambia. Last year the State Police reported 3,075 arrests involving receiving stolen property; most auto theft cases in New Jersey are charged as receiving stolen property. That disturbing fact played out last weekend when a 15-year-old boy was caught in a stolen car May 9 and on May 8, three juveniles - a 16-year-old boy, a 15-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy -- were caught in a stolen car. To address the growing number of motor vehicle thefts, the New Jersey State Police established the Auto Theft Task Force. Learn about common requests others have. Figures from January 2022 showed that carjackings have tripled from the same month in 2021. This year to date, the number is at 200, according to the Essex County Prosecutor's office. Gap insurance can prevent you from making payments on an already-totalled car, but is gap insurance worth it? The public has to realize this is a very real and very dangerous problem that has implications far beyond the initial theft of a vehicle and carries into the realm of violent crime. Although its home to some of the wealthiest people on earth, its also seen a significant spike in crime over recent years. The Newark Municipal Court is located at 31 Green Street in Newark, New Jersey 07102. Today, Newark has become an epicenter for crime earning itself the nickname Car Theft Capital of the World and is also inundated with violent crimes such asaggravated assaultand drugdistribution of heroin,cocaine, andmarijuana. Building bulletproof cars since 1993. Newark is also connected to the Holland Tunnel and Lower Manhattan by the Pulaski Skyway. However, Philadelphia also has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country, and high unemployment rates typically go hand in hand with high theft rates. When people are poor, they typically lack opportunities and will often need to turn to desperate measures to support themselves. NEWARK, New Jersey (WABC) -- New Jersey's biggest city is facing a growing problem of car thefts and more and more young people are being found behind the wheel of the stolen cars. The gang was believed to be responsible for the disappearance of at least 57 vehicles, worth more than $2.3 million. Indeed, it was in Detroit where the term carjacking was born. One officer is to go on trial Oct. 19. One youth, in the back seat, was arrested. 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