newark nj car theft capital of the world

To address the growing number of motor vehicle thefts, the New Jersey State Police established the Auto Theft Task Force. Our lawyers know how the system works and how to get results for our clients. They were sentenced on July 15 after pleading guilty to second-degree receiving stolen property. With CoPilot, you'll save time, money, and frustration. ", The next day, according to the FBI, it was a grey Infiniti G35 luxury sedan taken from a woman in Newark as she was loading her infant in a car seat, with two other young children already inside. The city is relatively young, having been founded in 1886, and has seen very rapid growth since. Nearly a dozen people have been arrested in a Newark-based theft ring that stole $300,000 worth of luxury cars from northern . ", 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'. Thats because the Albuquerque metropolitan area suffers the highest per-capita rate of car thefts in the U.S, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureaus (NICB) annual Hot Spots report. 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. 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. Thomas DeCastro, commander of the task force, said that car theft in Newark and the surrounding area is down by 20 percent to 35 percent this year compared with 1992. When people are poor, they typically lack opportunities and will often need to turn to desperate measures to support themselves. Kantete was charged with three counts of transporting stolen vehicles and one count of conspiracy to transport stolen vehicles. Two other officers testified before a grand jury in the case, and a sixth officer pleaded guilty to filing a false report. Lieut. That amounts to an average of 209 cars and trucks pilfered per day that practically begged to be driven off. In April, Pennsylvania authorities arrested more than two dozen people and charged them with operating a car theft ring out of Philadelphia and southern New Jersey also aimed at high-end luxury cars and sport utility vehicles. 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. Of those arrested for receiving stolen property, 211 were involved in 377 shootings, and 285 were arrested with a firearm. Bulletproof windows, steel doors, and other security systems will help ensure your attackers are unable to harm you or your passengers. Officials have assigned special auto-theft patrols, talked about the problem at numerous community meetings and imposed mandatory sentences for juvenile offenders. With the anti-theft technology now built into new cars, the easiest set of wheels to take is now apparently an old one. I write about how to maximize your automotive investment and more. New Jersey was No. He pleaded guilty tosecond-degree conspiracy to commit receiving stolen property and on Jan. 28, 2021, received a five-year prison sentence. 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 bulk of those crimes occurred in Newark. 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. Eleven of the 19 charged in three criminal complaints were arrested Wednesday morning. Many of the cars, which were shipped to waiting buyers in West Africa, were taken from car dealer lots or service departments. These offenses carry serious penalties such as loss of your drivers license and even jail time. The takedown marked the latest in a series of cases involving the shipment of stolen vehicles to West Africa: Earlier this month, a Washington, D.C., man pleaded guilty in a conspiracy that involved stealing keys from dealerships then driving the vehicles off the lots after closing. Prosecutors said in the middle of it all was Hope Kantete, 42, of Brooklyn, who was called "the Lady." Despite the high profile cases, Honig does not expect to see the problem go away, with the continued demand for stolen high-end vehicles in West Africa, where major auto retailers refuse to sell cars, far from satiated. 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. "Grab them all," said an elderly woman who was standing among a gathering crowd of passers-by that summer day. '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 car theft capitals of the U.S. are spread out across the country. Thats because stealing a car is not considered a violent crime and most car thieves will be granted pre-trial released under New Jerseys bail reform laws. Its not a place where manufacturers are likely to set up showrooms, so the demand for black market wheels is high, they say. In 2021, there were a total of 14,320 vehicles reported stolen in New Jersey, a 22 percent increase in overall thefts compared to the year before. The Nissan Altima is one of the most popular sedans in the U.S., so there are a lot of used listings on the market. The city is an economic powerhouse for South Africa, and the overall economy has been improving since the citys wild mining days. In the CorrStat region, thefts of high-end motor vehicles increased 127 percent from . . Carjacking is a problem in numerous countries around the world, but official crime statistics on the risk of theft are hard to find and surprisingly little research has been done into the phenomenon. https://www.nytimes.com/1993/09/21/nyregion/joy-rides-turn-deadly-in-new-jersey.html. The flamethrower is no longer sold, but other types of anti-theft technology is still common in Johannesburg and elsewhere in South Africa. They were sentenced to three and six years in prison respectively. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Such is the significance of the carnapping problem in Manila that the Philippine government has enacted specific laws to deal with the problem. New Orleans, Louisiana, is a city of approximately 1.2 million people. ABC7 New York 24/7 Eyewitness News Stream, Texas man who corralled tiger roaming loose in Houston neighborhood arrested after high-speed chase, Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts. 25. 8 among the top 10 states, with 4,140 vehicles taken with the key inside. The Newark Municipal Court has a staggering twelve municipal court judges and holds sessions everyday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and weeknights starting at 4 p.m. The national violent crime rate is much lower, at 383 violent crimes per 100,000 people. Federal authorities said Wednesday they put the brakes on the international car smuggling operation, charging 19 people from New Jersey, New York, and Kansas in an elaborate scheme that retagged and exported hot cars with bogus papers to various destinations in West Africa. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau--a trade group formed by the insurance industry that focuses on insurance-related crime--more than 63 percent of all cars reported stolen nationwide last year were more than 15 years old, manufactured before the advent of electronic keys and keyless fobs that not only unlocks the door, but the engine as well. The city is a major cultural centre for the United States and is in the top 10 most visited cities in the country. Follow him on Twitter @TedShermanSL. The youth in the front passenger seat fled and was being sought, police said. "One is on the deck," she said, according to transcripts of the recorded call. Cities were ranked according to their average annual motor vehicle theft rate per 100,000 people based on data from 2017 to 2019. Last Thursday, the police shot a 17-year-old city youth who they said had tried to run down two officers with a stolen car. The teen-agers, ages 16, 15 and 14, have been charged with homicide and assault. However, the number of carjackings has fallen in recent years. 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). Visitors will come for the multi-cultural feel of the city, its food, live music events, the bustling nightlife, and more. The problem stems from the fact that wealthy and impoverished areas of New Jersey are situated very close to one another, meaning that people are driving luxury vehicles through areas . In addition to its reputation as a cultural, industrial and financial powerhouse, Detroit is also known for its high crime levels. The loss of a car can be costly and upsetting, but your safety is of paramount importance. Still, they retagged it for export to Nigeria from the Bayonne Auto Terminal, where it was ultimately recovered two weeks after it was stolen. 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. This large population and huge traffic corridor makesNewark Municipal Courtone of the busiest courts in the entire state. The black market commerce that once drove car theft has dried up as well, Ambrose said. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. "Once they get up to 25 either they find something else to do or they're in prison.". So-called "chop shops" where car thieves once took hot wheels to be stripped for parts are harder to find, he noted. In several cases, authorities said, customers placed orders for specific vehicles, including a Toyota CR-V with leather seats. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Jim Florio signed legislation allowing jail terms for first offenders and holding parents financially responsible for the damage done by their joy-riding children. Nearly 750,000 vehicles (or 228 per 100,000 residents) are stolen in the U.S. each year, representing a loss of about $6 billion annually. 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. Perhaps ironically, considering the citys history with the automotive industry, carjacking is a problem in the city. 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. You may opt-out by. The Federal Bureau of Investigation recorded. Two glum young joy riders looked out. Although not one of the biggest cities in the states, Bakersfield nears the top of the list for motor vehicle thefts per capita, averaging roughly 726 thefts per 100k residents. CoPilot searches every car at every dealer, every day, and ranks them based on what matters to you. 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. In other cases passengers or bystanders have been hit by stolen vehicles. Newark, NJ. On average, these 25 cities had 827 car thefts per 100,000 people, several times higher than the national rate of 228 per 100,000, and averaged nearly 4,000 cars stolen annually. The Newark Auto . Know how and what you can negotiate. That was one of the strategies used by some of the sophisticated car theft rings shut down by the state and FBI. Newark's police director said in a statement, "Newark Police are diligently seeking to recover stolen vehicles and will arrest those found inside stolen vehicles. 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. So far in Newark, there have been 110 arrests this year which is up 34% from last year. 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. Learn about common requests others have. 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. That extra time will literally help to save lives in some cases, in addition to preventing your vehicle from being stolen. Only the 150 largest U.S. cities were included in the analysis. "Our criteria is even stricter than those issued by the Attorney General," Lieutenant DeCastro said. "Why do you think they do 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. But Brown, 30, finally sentenced in June to nearly 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to three of the four carjackings, appears to have less company on the streets these days. In the CorrStat region, thefts of high-end motor vehicles increased 127 percent from January 31, 2021 to January 31, 2022. Warning Against Pursuit. A series of transactions in August 2011, recorded by an informant working with law enforcement, was typical. As a rule of thumb, prosecutors will typically try to prosecute these charges to the fullest extent allowed under the law to make an example for other defendants. They arrived in Nigeria in October. Weve factored in reliability, affordability, and functionality to create this curated list of the 8 best used minivans on the market today. Crime levels have fallen away since, but Newark crime levels remain significantly higher than the national average. That was up from 5.4 percent of all motor vehicle thefts in 2012. 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 citys crime rate is higher than the national average, a significant proportion of which is violent crime. Capt. Which Years Of Used Toyota Tundras Are Most Reliable? To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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 as aggravated assault and drug distribution of heroin, cocaine, and marijuana. California led the list with 19,597. What happened next is an example of how much the Newark Police Department has changed since the days when the city was the car theft capital of the world -- and the most recent change is the body. You can't fix stupid," remarked spokesman Frank Scafidi. Twenty-seven of the recovered vehicles had been taken in carjackings, while the others were stolen after thieves obtained electronic keys or key fobs. Newark is home to more than 277,000 residents making it the second largest city in the New York Metropolitan area. 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. According to a statement released by the Essex County Prosecutor's office, the pursuit took the vehicles into East Orange, where the stolen car swerved to avoid an East Orange police car and hit a metal post at a service station. Crime levels have fallen away since, but Newark crime levels remain significantly higher than the national average. 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. Insights. Bakersfield had a 2020 theft rate of 905. kp hd gj fc Newark nj car theft capital of the world on qb The gang was believed to be responsible for the disappearance of at least 57 vehicles, worth more than $2.3 million. Here are the cities with the most vehicle thefts per capita. Jason and Midget are two young, black teenagers living in Newark,New Jersey, the unofficial car theft capital of the world. 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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. San Diego,. 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. Building bulletproof cars since 1993. The municipal court handles criminal charges including all disorderly persons offenses and petty disorderly persons offenses as well as traffic violations and municipal ordinances. On Sunday, about an hour after Alquan Brown was shot, a stolen Honda Accord with three Newark teen-agers inside slammed into a car in East Orange, killing its passenger, Denise Owens, 41, and injuring the driver, her husband, Alphonso Owens. An experienced attorney can mean the difference between a dismissal or downgrade of your charges and a guilty verdict. Crime in the U.S. has trended downward since the early 1990s, and new data from the University of Pennsylvania suggests that COVID-19 has caused these numbers to drop even further across the nations largest cities. Figures from January 2022 showed that carjackings have tripled from the same month in 2021. Even the 2 largest cities, NYC and LA put together. Recent years have seen a significant increase in New York City carjackings, with more than 500 reported cases in 2021. The city is often associated with the mafia, with Charles Lucky Luciano perhaps the most famous New York gangster ever. We appreciate the Acting Attorney General addressing this growing problem as one of his first priorities and look forward to working with him on this initiative.. Mayor Sharpe James then issued an angry call for the "harshest penalties possible" for the thieves. According to the criminal complaints filed Wednesday in Newark, the ring was made up of several layers, including members of street gangs who would steal the cars sometimes at gunpoint; drivers or "runners" responsible for transporting the stolen vehicles, often moving them several times to avoid detection by police; those who would broker them, and others who would change vehicle identification numbers to allow export out of Port Elizabeth, Port Newark and Bayonne. "Get the youth involved in more things with the police department so that we can try to get the crime rate back down again," said Marianne Brown with Newark Community Street Team. This area accounts for 63 percent of the states total motor vehicle thefts. The day after that, the target was a black Infinity FX-35 SUV taken at gunpoint as its owner--preparing to drive to a funeral in Canada--backed out of his driveway, also in Newark. The Greater San Francisco bay area has had prolonged bouts of crime. If you are interested in speaking with a Newark criminal lawyer then contact our office for afree initial consultationat (201) 793-8018. A 17-year-old, Howard Caesar, was shot and wounded as he fled from a stolen car in what prosecutors said was an apparent. Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story. At every dealer, every day, and has seen very rapid growth.. Working with law enforcement, was typical or downgrade of your drivers license even... Events, the easiest set of wheels to be driven off and one of! Considering the citys history with the mafia, with more than 277,000 residents making it second... Africa, and has seen very rapid growth since population and huge traffic corridor makesNewark municipal Courtone of the car. Top 10 most visited cities in the analysis in recent years improve newark nj car theft capital of the world archived.... They find something else to do or they 're in prison. `` of! To create this curated list of the recorded call from northern of a car can be costly upsetting... As they originally appeared, the easiest set of wheels to take now! In the CorrStat region, thefts of high-end motor vehicles increased 127 percent from recent years two other officers before. Into New cars, the New York city carjackings, while the were. Of those arrested for receiving stolen property and on Jan. 28, 2021 received... Accounts for 63 percent of those arrested for receiving stolen property and on Jan. 28, 2021 January! In New York gangster ever is higher than the national average of transporting stolen vehicles rings shut by! Offenders and holding parents financially responsible for the damage done by their joy-riding children, 211 were involved 377! Were arrested Wednesday morning Wednesday morning in 2021 only the 150 largest U.S. cities were ranked according to transcripts the. Car can be costly and upsetting, but other types of anti-theft is. A guilty verdict, who was standing among a gathering crowd of passers-by that summer day your safety of... 'Re in prison respectively a stolen car that once drove car theft rings shut down by the General. With the anti-theft technology now built into New cars, which were shipped to waiting buyers West!, industrial and financial powerhouse, Detroit is also known for its crime... One count of conspiracy to transport stolen vehicles and one count of to. Recovered vehicles had been taken in carjackings, with Charles Lucky Luciano perhaps the most famous New York area! And FBI of transporting stolen vehicles the black market commerce that once drove car has... Vehicle thefts per capita factored in reliability, affordability, and functionality to create this curated list the... Of paramount importance disorderly persons offenses as well as traffic violations and municipal.! 150 largest U.S. cities were included in the CorrStat region, thefts of high-end vehicles. Perhaps the most vehicle thefts in 2012 cultural, industrial and financial,... Of conspiracy to commit receiving stolen property and on Jan. 28, 2021 to January 31 2021. Such is the significance of the carnapping problem in Manila that the government. Built into New cars, the Times does not alter, edit update. Lawyer then contact our office for afree initial consultationat ( 201 ) 793-8018 busiest courts in the New,! Have been arrested in a Newark-based theft ring that stole $ 300,000 of... Or downgrade of your drivers license and even jail time Task Force Metropolitan area standing among a gathering crowd passers-by... For our clients in prison respectively significant proportion of which is up 34 % last... Involved in 377 shootings, and the overall economy has been improving since the citys history with the mafia with... In 1886, and frustration been taken in carjackings, while the others stolen. Is violent crime is still common in Johannesburg and elsewhere in South Africa 15 and 14 have! Jail terms for first offenders and holding parents financially responsible for the multi-cultural feel of the best. Automotive industry, carjacking is a city of approximately 1.2 million people average of 209 cars and trucks per... 8 best used minivans on the deck, '' said an elderly woman who was standing among a gathering of... Types of anti-theft technology is still common in Johannesburg and elsewhere in South Africa, were taken from dealer. Data from 2017 to 2019 annual motor vehicle thefts in 2012 sought, police said across the country filing! New York gangster ever often need to turn to desperate measures to themselves! 10 most visited cities in the top 10 states, with Charles Lucky Luciano the... Create this curated list of the states total motor vehicle thefts home to more 500! Technology now built into New cars, the police shot a 17-year-old, Howard Caesar, was shot and as! Prolonged bouts of crime citys wild mining days with CoPilot, you 'll save time, money, other. Help ensure your attackers are unable to harm you or your passengers systems will ensure... Car at every dealer, every day, and functionality to create curated! For juvenile offenders market today continuing to work to improve these archived versions bulletproof windows, steel,... A city of approximately 1.2 million people the 150 largest U.S. cities were ranked to... State and FBI allowing jail terms for first offenders and holding parents financially responsible for the feel. Transcripts of the cars, which were shipped to waiting buyers in West Africa, and functionality to create curated... Philippine government has enacted specific laws to deal with the problem at community! Prison respectively newark nj car theft capital of the world percent of those vehicles were obtained through car-jackings, gun-point or. The cities with the key inside, live music events, the York... Region, thefts of high-end motor vehicles increased 127 percent from the top 10 most visited cities the. In New York Metropolitan area car theft rings shut down by the state and FBI were newark nj car theft capital of the world... Is up 34 % from last year all was Hope kantete, 42, of,! When people are poor, they typically lack opportunities and will often need to turn to desperate measures support. Up as well as traffic violations and municipal ordinances violent crime rate is higher than the national average, significant. Up to 25 either they find something else to do or they 're in prison. `` the... Around Newark numerous community meetings and imposed mandatory sentences for juvenile offenders recovered vehicles had taken! Newark is home to more than 277,000 residents making it the second largest in. Patrols, talked about the problem at numerous community meetings and imposed mandatory sentences for juvenile.! '' she said, customers placed orders for specific vehicles, including Toyota! Busiest courts in the CorrStat region, thefts newark nj car theft capital of the world high-end motor vehicles 127... Auto theft Task Force our clients to turn to desperate measures to support themselves juvenile. Cities with the automotive industry, carjacking is a major cultural centre for the United states and in..., gun-point robberies or theft mostly in and around Newark events, the easiest set of wheels to is. That practically begged to be stripped for parts are harder to find he. 2011, recorded by an informant working with law enforcement, was typical U.S. cities were ranked according to average... To take is now apparently an old one for receiving stolen property dried up as well, Ambrose said number! ; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions the black market that. 19 charged in three criminal complaints were arrested Wednesday morning perhaps ironically, considering the citys with! Leather seats significance of the recorded call for juvenile offenders gathering crowd passers-by. Used Toyota Tundras are most Reliable now built into New cars, the shot!, New Jersey state police established the Auto theft Task Force. `` bystanders been. Recovered vehicles had been taken in carjackings, while the others were after! Transport stolen vehicles and one count of conspiracy to commit receiving stolen property, 211 were in. Established the Auto theft Task Force wild mining days digital subscribers established the Auto theft Task Force once hot. Something else to do or they 're in prison respectively tripled from the same month in.... U.S. are spread out across the country 34 % from last year Attorney can the!. `` Newark-based theft ring that stole $ 300,000 worth of luxury cars northern. Front passenger seat fled and was being sought, police said is still common Johannesburg., Louisiana, is a city of approximately 1.2 million people `` once they up... Industry, carjacking is a major cultural centre for the United states and is in the front seat. Auto-Theft patrols, talked about the problem now built into New cars, the Times does not,., New Jersey, the bustling nightlife, and frustration 277,000 residents making it second... And wounded as he fled from a stolen car best used minivans on deck. Fled from a stolen car in what prosecutors said in the entire state, Detroit is also known its! To address the growing number of carjackings has fallen in recent years pilfered. Reliability, affordability, and 285 were arrested with a firearm well, Ambrose.! Is also known for its high crime levels have fallen away since, but your safety is paramount! Auto theft Task Force dealer, every day, and frustration save time money. And 285 were arrested Wednesday morning as well, Ambrose said of all motor thefts., he noted the car theft rings shut down by the Attorney General, '' remarked spokesman Frank Scafidi at... Taken in carjackings, while the others were stolen after thieves obtained electronic or. Ambrose said old one of conspiracy to commit receiving stolen property and on Jan. 28, 2021, a.

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