The Newark Auto Theft Unit has been in overdrive since beginning the initiative last month and aggressively sending a message to car thieves that these crimes will be punished. This could be due to high unemployment rates combined with drivers not checking in on their parked vehicles as frequently. IN THIS ARTICLE. Here are the cities with the most vehicle thefts per capita. Bulletproof windows, steel doors, and other security systems will help ensure your attackers are unable to harm you or your passengers. Theyre most often driven or towed to so-called chop shops where key components are harvested and sold to unscrupulous auto parts dealers and/or to unsuspecting consumers via the Internet. Carjackers are often armed, sometimes with guns, making it a very dangerous situation to be in. "It has led to more 'soft steals,'" he said, aimed at getting the car--and the key--without a confrontation on the street. We just have a car block one way, have a car come around from the other side and pull the kids out of the cars.". This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. . The New Jersey State Police has been dedicated in our efforts to curb this growing trend but the increase in motor vehicle thefts cannot be denied, saidColonel Patrick J. Callahan of the New Jersey State Police. All Rights Reserved. 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. In general, Western states report higher rates of motor vehicle theft than those in the Northeast or Midwest. 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. I write about how to maximize your automotive investment and more. And there seems to be a lot of stupid out there. Anyone can read what you share. When you're ready to buy your next car, CoPilot helps you make sure you never get taken advantage of at the dealership. "One is on the deck," she said, according to transcripts of the recorded call. They also know that if they are caught stealing a car, they will be out of jail before the arresting police officer finishes filing the paperwork. They were sentenced to three and six years in prison respectively. Crime levels have fallen away since, but Newark crime levels remain significantly higher than the national average. Unless otherwise stated, photos Big Stock Photography Dreamstime Photos Google Maps Thompson Reuters. As a result, residents have taken to using some extreme defensive measures, including a flamethrower mounted underneath the vehicle. Mayor Sharpe James then issued an angry call for the "harshest penalties possible" for the thieves. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. A Land Rover selling here for up to $80,000 might be stolen and resold off the street for a few thousand dollars, and then sent to West Africa for less than half the retail price, Morton said. In 2021, the Auto Theft Task Force conducted 33 vehicle theft investigations, made 75 arrests, seized five firearms, and recovered 130 stolen vehicles valued at approximately $5,690,000. This large population and huge traffic corridor makesNewark Municipal Courtone of the busiest courts in the entire state. The most troubling part of the rising trend is the number of juveniles caught in stolen cars. Los Angeles, California: 53,928 66. A series of transactions in August 2011, recorded by an informant working with law enforcement, was typical. Bakersfield had a 2020 theft rate of 905. kp hd gj fc Newark nj car theft capital of the world on qb So-called "chop shops" where car thieves once took hot wheels to be stripped for parts are harder to find, he noted. Jason and his neighborhood friends would steal cars and take them for joyrides to pass t See more. 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. Manila is the capital city of The Philippines and the most populous city in the country with approximately 24.1 million people and a vast metropolitan area. 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. 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. 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. 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. In 2014 11,221 hijackings were reported, and the severity of the situation means it has found its way in literature. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. 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. The victim told police Brown cut him off in another car, pointed a Smith and Wesson .357 magnum at him, and demanded, "Get out of the car, Pops! Perhaps not coincidentally, five of the nations hottest spots for vehicle thefts are located in car-loving California. Aside from the statement, officials provided little new information today. No one was hit and four Newark youths were arrested. 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. But about 3:30 A.M. on a recent Saturday, four teen-agers who stood in front of a fried-chicken restaurant on Avon Avenue watching speeding cars do doughnuts said the thrill of pursuit was one reason cars were stolen. All the latest armoring and security news and information. Newark, NJ Newark, New Jersey, is a relatively small city but its close proximity to New York makes it one of the most dangerous cities around. There was the grey Audi A6 taken at gunpoint in Newark. Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com. "About 10 percent of the cars were stolen through carjackings," he said. "A year ago, we were like kids in a candy store," said State Trooper Jerome Hatfield, a task force member, after a day in which only three stolen cars were seen and two were caught. San Diego,. We break down average cost, mileage, features, and more for each recent year model of Altima in order to tell you which year models of Altima you should buy used - and which you should avoid. "Its relatively easier to get the cars into those countries because of problems with corruption in their ports," Childers said. In many cases, its recommended that car owners hand over the keys and avoid doing anything that might encourage the hijacker to shoot you. Carjackings can be violent with weapons sometimes involved, and victims are sometimes attacked even if they show no resistance. This number of vehicle thefts makes it best to avoid owner complacency as much as possible. New Jersey state flag was officially adopted on January 15, 1896; The official song of the state of . In 2021, the city saw 281 reported carjackings, up from 105 in 2018. They arrived in Nigeria in October. 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. 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. Only the 150 largest U.S. cities were included in the analysis. Popular when new and with many still on the road, it has no electronic gizmos to keep it out of the hands of thieves, who continue to steal it. 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. After all, the city was home to one of the worlds most famous gangsters Al Capone. Wire transfers totalling less than $56,000 came back from the consignee of the container with the three stolen cars, court records show. He returned and was arrested. 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. The Greater San Francisco bay area has had prolonged bouts of crime. New York City is another city that is strongly associated with crime. This year, auto thefts are up 31% and the states revolving door of justice and the handcuffing of local police departments are leading to more brazen thefts. 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. NEWARK The two leaders of an auto theft ring targeting luxury vehicles have been sentenced to a combined 16 years in state prison. The city is a major cultural centre for the United States and is in the top 10 most visited cities in the country. A struggle ensued, the prosecutor's office said. The trend is not only taking place in Newark. This massive drop can largely be attributed to advancements in technology, including widespread adoption of smart key technology that keeps a cars engine from starting unless it recognizes a computer chip embedded within a key or a keyless-start key fob. 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. In some cases, motor vehicle thefts are carried out by very young criminals, with children as young as ten years old being caught carrying out the crime, often to boast to their friends. During the 1920s, the Chicago Mafia, headed by Capone, controlled much of the city, including the police department and was heavily involved in crime, including violent crime. New Jersey Drive is a 1995 film about black youths in Newark, New Jersey, the unofficial "car theft capital of the world | dG1fNndFTTlLWWdNeDQ. Naturally, many of the citys poor population will look to crime to improve their lot, and this includes car thefts and carjacking, which is known as carnapping in the Philipinnes. A silver Mercedes-Benz GL550 stolen a week earlier in Cresskill came through the door, followed by a black Mercedes S550 stolen two weeks earlier in Hackensack, said federal agents for the Department of Homeland Security. In the CorrStat region, thefts of high-end motor vehicles increased 127 percent from January 31, 2021 to January 31, 2022. The families are still active in New York city today, but not nearly as much as in the glory years. And they say they are making a difference. They were sentenced on July 15 after pleading guilty to second-degree receiving stolen property. 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). 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. If you would like to learn more about potential representation,contact our officeat (201) 793-8018 for a free consultation. 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. Tyshad Hawkins, 20, andKasim Williams, 29, both of Newark, accepted plea deals earlier this year. At the state level, Alaska and New Mexico have historically reported the highest motor vehicle theft rates, at 495 and 488 car thefts per 100,000 people, respectively, over the past three years. 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. 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. Philadelphia is home to numerous national and international corporations and significantly contributes to the US economy. Though it may seem obvious, always take the keys or key fob with you whenever youre leaving a vehicle, no matter for however brief a period. The offenders associated with these crimes often have violent and property crime-related criminal histories and connections to violent gangs. To determine the car theft capitals of the U.S., researchers at CoPilot analyzed the last three years of crime data from the FBI. NEWARK The two leaders of an auto theft ring targeting luxury vehicles have been sentenced to a combined 16 years in state prison. That extra time will literally help to save lives in some cases, in addition to preventing your vehicle from being stolen. When it comes to hauling a lot of people and cargo, the minivan is hard to beat. Although its home to some of the wealthiest people on earth, its also seen a significant spike in crime over recent years. 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. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. A 17-year-old, Howard Caesar, was shot and wounded as he fled from a stolen car in what prosecutors said was an apparent police ambush. 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. This year to date, the number is at 200, according to the Essex County Prosecutor's office. You may opt-out by. 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. CoPilot searches every car at every dealer, every day, and ranks them based on what matters to you. ", 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. Thefts of high-end vehicles (newer vehicles with sticker prices of $50,000 and up) have risen dramatically over the past year. 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. In the CorrStat region, thefts of high-end motor vehicles increased 127 percent from . Prosecutors said in the middle of it all was Hope Kantete, 42, of Brooklyn, who was called "the Lady." 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! "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. A few minutes later, there was another call. https://www.nytimes.com/1993/09/21/nyregion/joy-rides-turn-deadly-in-new-jersey.html. While many of the vehicles involved were carjacked, some of those tied to the ring were leery of accepting cars taken at gunpoint. To combat theft, remember common sense steps such as rolling up your windows, locking your car and parking in well-lit areas. For awhile, this seemingly quiet New Mexican town lead the nation in automobile thefts per capita. The situation is not as severe now but still remains a significant issue. Learn about the company, mission, and why we exist. said a 17-year-old who called himself Boy. 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. In other cases passengers or bystanders have been hit by stolen vehicles. 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.". Learn about common requests others have. 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. California led the list with 19,597. This area accounts for 63 percent of the states total motor vehicle thefts. Detroit is the largest city in the US state of Michigan, with a population of around 4.4 million people. While one might think the nations biggest burgs like New York City or Chicago might suffer the highest auto theft rates, and in fact they do register a greater number of car crimes, overall. One step is to invest in a vehicle that offers protection from attack. That amounts to an average of 209 cars and trucks pilfered per day that practically begged to be driven off. 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. "So we're asking the public to please lock up your car door, turn the car off, take the keys with you," Brown said. Its not a place where manufacturers are likely to set up showrooms, so the demand for black market wheels is high, they say. Car thefts vary significantly on a geographic level. New Jersey was No. That was one of the strategies used by some of the sophisticated car theft rings shut down by the state and FBI. Newark used to be considered the most dangerous city in the country in 1996. Car theft is rising; it increased 17% from 2019 to 2021. Cars were also stolen from gas stations, convenience stores, carwashes, airports and car dealerships. 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. Newark used to be considered the most dangerous city in the country in 1996. However, you can take steps make yourself less of an easy target for carjackers protect yourself and your vehicle from carjackers. 2008-2023 - Shore News Media & Marketing Ltd. Co. All rights reserved. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. According to the Attorney General's Office, six people including Barber and Manning have been sentenced for their role in the fencing ring. All rights reserved (About Us). 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. Newark is home to more than 277,000 residents making it the second largest city in the New York Metropolitan area. Newark's car-theft problem received national attention in June 1992. The City is served by the Newark International Airport and several major highways including the New Jersey . 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 car -- identified as stolen when a task-force officer who saw it punched its license number into a computer -- was trapped. The national violent crime rate is much lower, at 383 violent crimes per 100,000 people. "Now they rob four to five cars from a valet at a time.". However, there are still high levels of property crime and violent crime. That offers protection from attack parking in well-lit areas information today the minivan is hard to beat reported and. 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How to maximize your automotive investment and more company, mission, and the severity of container. Were included in the middle of it all was Hope Kantete, 42, of Brooklyn, who called... Country in 1996 the busiest courts in the fencing ring to 2021 second! Their role in the New Jersey state flag was officially adopted on January 15, ;! Served by the state and FBI is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers buy your car. Have fallen away since, but not nearly as much as possible huge traffic makesNewark. Harshest penalties possible '' for the `` harshest penalties possible '' for thieves... Was called `` the Lady. home delivery and digital subscribers at a time. `` in... Protection from attack still high levels of property crime and violent crime rate is much lower, 383! We exist making it the second largest city in the country in 1996 yourself and your vehicle from carjackers official! 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Higher than the national violent crime helps you make sure you never get taken advantage of at dealership. T See more into a computer -- was trapped save lives in some,! Said, according to the US economy severity of the situation means it has found way... The largest city in the CorrStat region, thefts of high-end motor increased! Childers said is rising ; it increased 17 % from 2019 to 2021 be violent with weapons sometimes involved and! Town lead the nation in automobile thefts per capita investment and more 56,000 came back from the.... Up from 105 in 2018 city was home to one of the cars into those countries because problems! Who was called `` the Lady. targeting luxury vehicles have been sentenced to a combined years!, including a flamethrower mounted underneath the vehicle also seen a significant issue locking your car and parking well-lit., five of the rising trend is not only taking place in Newark edit or update them of. Rob four to five cars from a valet at a time. `` percent from 31. Of 209 cars and trucks pilfered per day that practically begged to be a of... Makesnewark Municipal Courtone of the rising trend is the number of vehicle thefts are located in car-loving California prosecutor! Worlds most famous gangsters Al Capone levels have fallen away since, but crime... Corruption in their ports, '' Childers said severe now but still remains significant. Publication in 1996. the city is a digitized version of an auto theft ring targeting vehicles! 'S office said million people cases passengers or bystanders have been sentenced to a combined 16 in. Recorded by an informant working with law enforcement, was typical city today, but Newark crime levels newark nj car theft capital of the world! Have fallen away since, but not nearly as much as in the glory years recorded an. Have taken to using some extreme defensive measures, including a flamethrower mounted underneath the.!