The U.S. House bill would create a national network to combat auto theft crime

Larry Higgs
nj.com

NEWARK, NJ – U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-5, called New Jersey the epicenter of auto theft with 16,000 reported stolen cars last year and announced plans to combat the problem by providing funding and other resources to police departments can share information about charged cars in real time.

Gottheimer stood at the State Police Real Time Crime Center, which is located at a police station in Newark and provides instant information on car thefts to police departments across the state. He said a bill he supports would replicate the Center's efforts in other states to reduce the 1 million reported car thefts in the nation in 2023.

The Combatting Auto Robbery at the Source, or CARS Act, is co-sponsored by U.S. Rep. Anthony D'Esposito, a New York Republican and former NYPD detective who is aware of the threat to public safety from auto theft, Gottheimer said.

“Car theft is not just a crime in urban areas, suburban and rural areas also face this problem,” he said. “The thieves are often career criminals with connections to organized crime and nationwide crime rings.”

New Jersey State Authorities have controlled millions of dollars to combat the nationwide surge in car thefts that peaked shortly after the coronavirus pandemic.

The bill provides for information sharing and dissemination, “intelligent and effective” solutions similar to those carried out at the Real-Time Crime Center in Newark. There, police departments and state police are integrated into a real-time computer chat to report car thefts and provide information on arresting criminals and recovering vehicles.

Information from license plate readers and other technologies about a stolen vehicle's location is shared in real time, officials said.

This gives state and local police departments “the resources they need to reduce car theft,” Gotthiemer said.

So far this year, 3,000 vehicles have been stolen in New Jersey, about 36 per day, Gottheimer said. Even more concerning are 53 reported car thefts so far this year, he said. This contains an incident at Edison Last month, a driver fought off three masked men who tried to steal his high-end SUV.

Two young people were arrested on March 22nd in connection with the crime.

About 20% of stolen vehicles are shipped abroad through ports in Newark and Elizabeth, he said.

Gottheimer wants to re-establish the National Auto Theft Bureau at the US Department of Justice. It would act as a national clearinghouse for auto theft data, allowing local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to share data in real time, he said.

“We’re going to take this (New Jersey) model and spread it nationwide. These criminal gangs are national organizations and move very quickly between states,” he said.

This office will provide training, resources, and recommendations to the private sector, the public, and law enforcement agencies to combat auto theft. It will also work with the automotive industry to identify vulnerabilities such as the Kia and Hyundai problem that have made those cars targets for thieves, he said.

Finally, the CARS Act will ensure police have resources through grants to provide information sharing and best practices that work, Gottheimer said.

“You have to invest to protect,” he said.

Law enforcement officials said at the event that more resources are needed.

“It brings a commonsense solution to situations we face every day,” said Dan Oliveira, president of the State Troopers Non-Commissioned Officers Association, a police union.

“It provides the tools for law enforcement, such as data sharing between agencies and funding opportunities.”

The state Policeman's Benevolent Association also supported the bill.

“The information sharing is excellent, but this bill will give us a true clearinghouse for auto theft,” said Patrick Colligan, president of the state PBA. “It will really help us solve crimes and get these criminals off the streets.”

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