Crimes Up: Barnegat Detectives collar four Atlantic County residents for recent car thefts
The trend of unlocked vehicles with the keys inside continues but police are cracking down twice as hard for those getting behind the wheel of a car that isn't theirs and taking off with it.
It's been happening across Ocean and Monmouth Counties.
Cars, sometimes, more than 10 in the span of a couple hours in the middle of the night being stolen.
The thefts are made easy for the thieves as the cars are unlocked and the keys inside in most cases.
Barnegat Police announced Friday that four suspects behind the rash of car thefts in their jurisdiction have been placed in handcuffs.
All four, three juveniles and one adult male, have been charged with theft and conspiracy to commit theft in connection with the theft of motor vehicles stolen from Barnegat developments earlier this week.
A 16-year-old from Baltic Avenue in Atlantic City is being charged with 3rd degree theft and two counts of 3rd degree conspiracy to commit theft.
A 17-year-old from Clayton Way in Absecon is being charged with 3rd degree theft and two counts of 3rd degree conspiracy to commit theft.
A 17-year-old from McKinley Avenue in Atlantic City is being charged with 3rd degree theft and two counts of 3rd degree conspiracy to commit theft.
Henry Alvarez, 18, of Beach Avenue in Atlantic City, is being charged with 3rd degree theft and two counts of 3rd degree conspiracy to commit theft.
Barnegat Police Chief Keith Germain thanks the local law enforcement agencies with the Stafford Township Police Department, the Atlantic City Police Department, the Ocean County Sheriff's Department and the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office for their assistance with this investigation.
Chief Germain also praised the work the detectives and officers put in to catch the suspects and cautions anyone who tries committing this or any other kind of crime in Barnegat.
Don't do it.
"We will not allow the crime and victimization that has exploded elsewhere to become common and accepted here. Our detectives-- working in concert with our local, county, and regional partners-- have once again shown that they will quickly and effectively utilize their training, skills, and vast professional networks to bring those responsible for willfully violating our laws to justice," Chief Germain said in a statement. "There will be consequences for committing crimes in Barnegat Township."
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