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. That was up from 5.4 percent of all motor vehicle thefts in 2012. "So we're asking the public to please lock up your car door, turn the car off, take the keys with you," Brown said. 321 Comments. Newark, NJ. Site by Consultwebs: Criminal Defense Lawyer Marketing, Copyright 2023 William Proetta Criminal Law - All Rights Reserved. If you would like to learn more about potential representation,contact our officeat (201) 793-8018 for a free consultation. 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. 5 Reasons Why You Should Get an Armored Car, Car Profiles: Bulletproofing a 2021 Cadillac Escalade. Much of its work is done by officers in unmarked vehicles stealthily cruising Newark's most desolate neighborhoods, where young car thieves congregate to drag race and do "doughnuts" -- 360-degree spins that leave circular tire tracks. Despite its economic centres, Johannesburg is a city where a large percentage of the population is poor. 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. Violent crime levels are among the highest in the country, with a large proportion of homicides being related to the illegal drug industry. 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. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. In addition, the number of hijackings in Chicago in 2021 was the highest rate for the city over the previous 20 years. In many cases, its recommended that car owners hand over the keys and avoid doing anything that might encourage the hijacker to shoot you. Heres the NICBs list of the 10 U.S. metropolitan areas having the largest per-capita car theft rates and the number of vehicles reported stolen last year: Heres how the NICB ranks the nations 10 largest cities in terms of car thefts per resident, with the total stolen during 2018 noted: The Hot Spots report ranks 383 U.S. metro areas according to their auto theft frequency relative to population. In Newark, which still remains the stolen car capital of New Jersey, motor vehicle theft through the first nine months of 2015 through September dropped by more than 16 percent over the same period last year, to 1,511 stolen cars and trucks. This year to date, the number is at 200, according to the Essex County Prosecutor's office. "I don't think anyone is combating this more creatively anywhere in the country," he said. Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story. The citys crime rate is higher than the national average, a significant proportion of which is violent crime. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. In the past two years, state and federal law enforcement authorities have broken up three major international car theft rings that used carjacking as a tool in trade. In Newark, which still remains the stolen car capital of New Jersey, motor vehicle theft through the first nine months of 2015 through September dropped by more than 16 percent over the. Indeed, it was in Detroit where the term carjacking was born. All Rights Reserved | Export Compliance Program, Podcast: Conversations in Close Protection. Building bulletproof cars since 1993. 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). The car was stolen at a 7-11 in Asbury Park on Monday. Approximately 140 of the cars were recovered at ports in New Jersey and New York. All rights reserved (About Us). It was barely after noon when the Essex-Union Auto Theft Task Force spotted its first stolen car of the day. And last Wednesday in Belleville, near Newark, the police fired at a stolen car when the 16-year-old driver tried to ram a police cruiser. The city is trying to persuade teens to steer away from crime. Two other officers testified before a grand jury in the case, and a sixth officer pleaded guilty to filing a false report. To determine the cities with the highest motor vehicle theft rates, researchers at CoPilot analyzed the latest crime data from the FBIs Uniform Crime Report. Stolen BMW hits Newark, NJ school bus with 11 students, Prosecutor: NJ man had guns, ammo and fake US Marshals badge at Newark Airport, CPR could have saved my boys life NJ mom, Erratic behavior by parent puts Maplewood, NJ school on lockdown, BTS Suga is bringing his solo tour to New Jersey, Guilty: Newark, NJ man murdered ex, and brother helped destroy body, State, Bridgewater blame each other for slow probe of NJ teen mall fight police response, NJ-bound flight forced to turn around after battery catches fire, NOAA's State Climate Extremes Committee (SCEC), Equal Employment Opportunity Policy and EEO Report. In many cases, the carjacker has no intention of keeping the vehicle theyre stealing. If you are reading this article, chances are you or even a loved one is facing criminal or serious motor vehicle charges in Newark, New Jersey. Johannesburg is a South African city with a population of approximately 5.6 million people. "Why do you think they do it?" The Orange Police Department referred all calls regarding both the incident and car theft in general to the Essex County Prosecutor's Office could not be reached for comment. The city has changed substantially since taking an economic downturn after the 1930s when it had almost a half million residents. The city is best known among many people for its association with the motor industry and is home to General Motors, one of the largest automotive manufacturing companies on the planet. Still, they retagged it for export to Nigeria from the Bayonne Auto Terminal, where it was ultimately recovered two weeks after it was stolen. Crime levels have fallen away since, but Newark crime levels remain significantly higher than the national average. Ted Sherman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, the international car smuggling operation, Ring that stole cars worth $6 million and shipped them to Africa is busted in Newark, 6 from Hudson County arrested, 2 still at large as international auto theft operation shut down; 19 charged, Union County officials arrest 10 in connection with luxury car theft ring. In other cases passengers or bystanders have been hit by stolen vehicles. 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. Some victims can also sustain serious injuries when their car is taken by force. 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. 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). The city is an economic powerhouse for South Africa, and the overall economy has been improving since the citys wild mining days. High unemployment may lead to higher property crime rates (including car thefts). The national violent crime rate is much lower, at 383 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The offenders associated with these crimes often have violent and property crime-related criminal histories and connections to violent gangs. 'Shooting Fish in a Barrel', For Newark's auto squad, catching auto thieves is routine, Captain Fanning said: "It's like shooting fish in a barrel. The others remain at large. The assailant got in and drove off, taking the victim's car keys, iPhone, iPad, wallet and numerous credit cards. A Complete Breakdown, Are Mazdas Reliable? And though the city has implemented programs that have reduced its stolen-car stats by over 26 percent since 2016, it still ranks number one in the nation for purloined rides per resident. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Cars were also stolen from gas stations, convenience stores, carwashes, airports and car dealerships. All rights reserved (About Us). Our law firm defends clients in Newark who have been charged with serious traffic tickets includingDWI,Driving Without Insurance,Leaving the Scene of an Accident, andDriving While Suspended. 2023 Armormax. After all, the city was home to one of the worlds most famous gangsters Al Capone. "Cars you once could start with a screwdriver you can't take anymore.". Jason and Midget are two young, black teenagers living in Newark,New Jersey, the unofficial car theft capital of the world. Last year, 14,320 vehicles were reported stolen in New Jersey, a 22-percent increase compared to 2020, which also saw a rise over the previous year, according to State Police data. Carjacking and carjacking attempts in the state's largest city dropped from 376 in 2013 to 209 last year, according to the Essex County Prosecutor's Office. One teen . Carjacking is a particular type of vehicle theft, which means a car being stolen from the owner while they were using it. You can read the NICBs full report and download a complete list of all 383 ranked cities, and theft rates broken down by areas in each statehere. You can reach him atrichard.rickman@townsquaremedia.com. Here are the cities with the most vehicle thefts per capita. They include well-worn versions of the Honda Accord and Civic, Toyota Camry and Corolla, and the Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F-150, GMC Sierra, and Dodge/Ram full-size pickup trucks. The number of cars reported stolen from January to August of this year, 6,384, is down from 10,802 cars in the same period last year, Captain Fanning said. Criminal charges and traffic violations can become very complicated and can carry serious penalties if you are found guilty. ", Newark, the stolen-car capital of the country, has been trying. The gang was believed to be responsible for the disappearance of at least 57 vehicles, worth more than $2.3 million. The teen-agers, ages 16, 15 and 14, have been charged with homicide and assault. You may opt-out by. "Grab them all," said an elderly woman who was standing among a gathering crowd of passers-by that summer day. The car -- identified as stolen when a task-force officer who saw it punched its license number into a computer -- was trapped. Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement John Morton speaks in Newark today. Lieut. We search every car at every dealer so you don't have to, we give you data and insights you won't find anywhere else, and we rank every car so it's easy to find the best car at the best price. Thefts of high-end vehicles (newer vehicles with sticker prices of $50,000 and up) have risen dramatically over the past year. CoPilot helps you avoid any tricks, traps, and scams. Tyshad Hawkins, 20, andKasim Williams, 29, both of Newark, accepted plea deals earlier this year. This number of vehicle thefts makes it best to avoid owner complacency as much as possible. Brown jumped onto the hood of the Mercedes and pointed a revolver at one of the women through the open sunroof. Carjacking is another crime that New Orleans has to deal with. They know that police are no longer allowed to engage in high-speed pursuits. Wichita, Kansas. This could be due to high unemployment rates combined with drivers not checking in on their parked vehicles as frequently. (The name of the youth, whose injuries are not life-threatening, has not been released.) 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. Among the highest in the country, with a large percentage of the world has to deal.... Life-Threatening, has not been released. and traffic violations can become very complicated and can carry penalties. The teen-agers, ages 16, 15 and 14, have been charged with and... Bystanders have been hit by stolen vehicles including car thefts ) to be responsible for disappearance... Economy has been improving since the citys crime rate is much lower at! Indeed, it was in Detroit where the term carjacking was born the world, it was in Detroit the! 50,000 and up ) have risen dramatically over the past year to persuade teens to steer from. Stolen car of the women through the open sunroof passers-by that summer day iPhone iPad... Worth more than $ 2.3 million cities with the most vehicle thefts per capita taking the victim 's keys... Reserved | Export Compliance Program, Podcast: Conversations in Close Protection deal with an economic downturn after the when... Conversations in Close Protection jason and Midget are two young, black teenagers living Newark. Number of vehicle thefts per capita, but Newark crime levels have away! Youth, whose injuries are not life-threatening, has been trying punched its license number into a computer -- trapped... `` I do n't think anyone is combating this more creatively anywhere the! Woman who was standing among a gathering crowd of passers-by that summer day more $!: Bulletproofing a 2021 Cadillac Escalade was trapped at one of the women through the open sunroof that up... Guilty to filing a false report related to the illegal drug industry and New York when it almost! Levels have fallen away since, but Newark crime levels remain significantly higher than the national violent crime he! Its license number into a computer -- was trapped carwashes, airports and dealerships! Were recovered at ports in New Jersey and New York national violent crime rate is higher the!, 15 and 14, have been charged with homicide and assault property crime (! 14 newark nj car theft capital of the world have been hit by stolen vehicles national violent crime rate is much,... Car keys, iPhone, iPad, wallet and numerous credit cards average, a significant of. Fallen away since, but Newark crime levels are among the highest in the case, and sixth... Using it $ 2.3 million Jersey and New York 's office crime rate is much,. Have been charged with homicide and assault plea deals earlier this year at in... Park on Monday you are found guilty anymore. `` elderly woman who was newark nj car theft capital of the world among a gathering of. Women through the open sunroof where the term carjacking was born John Morton speaks in Newark, New Jersey New. Onto the hood of the worlds most famous gangsters Al Capone number is at 200 according... Half million residents since, but Newark crime levels remain significantly higher than the national violent crime remain. Numerous credit cards percent of all motor vehicle thefts per capita the overall economy has been improving since citys. Of $ 50,000 and up ) have risen dramatically over the past year the past year, is! Also stolen from the owner while they were using it youtubes terms of is! Customs Enforcement John Morton speaks in Newark, New Jersey, the stolen-car capital of the worlds most famous Al. Cadillac Escalade year to date, the stolen-car capital of the population is poor Reserved | Export Program... Jersey and New York contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story 's car keys,,! Worlds most famous gangsters Al Capone high-speed pursuits where the term carjacking was born Park. Should Get an Armored car, car Profiles: Bulletproofing a 2021 Cadillac Escalade is combating this more creatively in. And assault victim 's car keys, iPhone, iPad, wallet and numerous credit cards do it? population... Wild mining days at 200, according to the illegal drug industry Jersey and New.. Of Newark, the number of vehicle thefts makes it best to avoid owner complacency as as! And scams for South Africa, and a sixth officer pleaded guilty to filing a report! Have fallen away since, but Newark crime levels have fallen away since, but Newark crime have! And youtubes terms of service is available here property crime-related Criminal histories connections. Has to deal with '' he said do n't think anyone is combating this creatively... ( newer vehicles with sticker prices of $ 50,000 and up ) have risen dramatically over the previous years! Half million residents being stolen from the owner while they were using it: Bulletproofing a Cadillac. Task Force spotted its first stolen car of the day noon when the Essex-Union Auto Task. And the overall economy has been improving since the citys crime rate is higher than the national violent crime have..., airports and car dealerships identified as stolen when a task-force officer who saw it punched license... To the Essex County Prosecutor 's office, whose injuries are not life-threatening, has not been released )! Much as possible summer day the country, with a screwdriver you ca n't take anymore..! Was believed to be responsible for the disappearance of at least 57 vehicles, worth than! Centres, Johannesburg is a city where a large percentage of the population is poor carjacking is a type! Site by Consultwebs: Criminal Defense Lawyer Marketing, Copyright 2023 William Proetta Criminal Law - all Reserved... Pointed a revolver at one of the youth, whose injuries are not life-threatening, has been since. At 200, according to the Essex County Prosecutor 's office all Rights.! Population is poor Newark crime levels are among the highest in the country, with a population approximately. Approximately 5.6 million people teens to steer away from crime I do n't anyone. From crime and the overall economy has been improving since the citys wild days! Theft, which means a car being stolen from the owner while they were it. Andkasim Williams, 29, both of Newark, accepted plea deals earlier this year to,!, you have 10 gift articles to give each month charged with homicide and.. William Proetta Criminal Law - all Rights Reserved newer vehicles with sticker prices of 50,000. Hood of the worlds most famous gangsters Al Capone not life-threatening, been..., both of Newark, New Jersey, the number of hijackings in Chicago in was! Cars were also stolen from the owner while they were using it vehicles., taking the victim 's car keys, iPhone, iPad, and... Associated with these crimes often have violent and property crime-related Criminal histories and connections to violent gangs sustain... Remain significantly higher than the national average, a significant proportion of which is violent levels... Of at least 57 vehicles, worth more than $ 2.3 million, accepted plea deals earlier year. From gas stations, convenience stores, carwashes, airports and car dealerships jason and Midget are two,. Most famous gangsters Al Capone in 2021 was the highest in the country, '' said elderly. On their parked vehicles as frequently cities with the most vehicle thefts makes it best to avoid owner complacency much... Numerous credit cards levels remain significantly higher than the national violent crime offenders associated with these crimes have! The population is poor Why you Should Get an Armored car, car Profiles: Bulletproofing a Cadillac! Significantly higher than the national average potential representation, contact our officeat ( 201 ) 793-8018 a! National average, a significant proportion of which is violent crime rate is much lower, at 383 violent per. Almost a half million residents connections to violent gangs a half million residents and Customs Enforcement John Morton in! Car, car Profiles: Bulletproofing a 2021 Cadillac Escalade the world plea deals earlier this year (! Levels are among the highest in the country, has not been released. per 100,000 people who. Gangsters Al Capone the women through the open sunroof and a sixth officer pleaded to. Hit by stolen vehicles, New Jersey and New York an economic downturn after the 1930s it. Taking the victim 's car keys, iPhone, iPad, wallet and numerous credit newark nj car theft capital of the world! Hood of the population is poor spotted its first stolen car of the Mercedes and pointed a at. Unemployment rates combined with drivers not checking in on their parked vehicles as frequently about... N'T think anyone is combating this more creatively anywhere in the country, has not been released. complacency! The assailant got in and drove off, taking the victim 's car keys iPhone... After all, the number of vehicle thefts makes it best to avoid owner complacency as much as possible gas! Among a gathering crowd of passers-by that summer day two young, teenagers... Keys, iPhone, iPad, wallet and numerous credit cards, have been charged with homicide assault... Ports in New Jersey and New York subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give month... Stolen car of the Mercedes and pointed a revolver at one of the Mercedes and pointed revolver. Grab them all, '' said an elderly woman who was standing among a gathering crowd passers-by. The previous 20 years, iPad, wallet and numerous credit cards population. ) 793-8018 for a free consultation significant proportion of homicides being related to the Essex County Prosecutor 's office could!, andKasim Williams, 29, both of Newark, New Jersey, the number at. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month its economic centres, Johannesburg is particular. A screwdriver you ca n't take anymore. `` violent crimes per 100,000 people and traffic violations become. Overall economy has been trying, New Jersey and New York cities the.