Car Stolen In Chester Recovered In Irvington

CHESTER, NJ - A 2019 Range Rover was tracked and recovered in Irvington after being stolen from Fox Chase Road last month, according to the Chester Police Department.

The car was unlocked with the keys inside at the time of the theft, according to authorities.

Here in Morris County, an Auto Theft Task Force has been created to stop a persistent trend in car thefts and car burglaries.

To further combat this and other issues affecting the community, a multi-agency auto theft/anti-crime task force has been launched to enhance patrols and further investigations of auto theft and other pattern-type crimes. This initiative, first conceptualized by Chief Andrew Caggiano of the Montville Police Department, has come about through a partnership between the Morris County Sheriff's Office, the Morris County Police Chiefs' Association, the Morris County Prosecutor's Office and the New Jersey State Police Auto Theft Task Force, in coordination with various law enforcement agencies.

"In Montville, we are a geographically and economically convenient location. As such, we are experiencing a scourge of vehicle thefts and burglaries," Caggiano said. "I realized that there is strength in the combining of our forces, and proposed the Auto Theft Task Force."

Chester Police Chief Thomas Williver, who serves as President of the Morris County Police Chiefs' Association, agreed.

"We find that by joining agencies and supplying personnel to a task force, we can create a situation of force multiplication," said Williver. "We support Chief Caggiano and all of the Morris County Chiefs whose jurisdictions are affected by this dangerous crime spree. This is intelligence-led policing and will help all of our communities."

Beyond Morris County, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal and the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor (OIFP) launched the "Lock It or Lose It" public awareness campaign aimed at discouraging New Jerseyans from leaving their cars unlocked with the key fob inside.

"Auto theft isn't just for joyriding anymore. It could be a critical first step in the commission of much more serious crimes like murder and robbery," said Grewal. "We want people to realize that carelessly leaving their key fobs in their unlocked cars or leaving their cars running and unattended is an open invitation to car thieves who need a vehicle to carry out their criminal agenda."

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