The Hopewell Township Police Department reminded residents last week to not only lock their vehicles but take any valuables out of them in an effort to prevent them from being victims of theft.
The warning from the township police comes as East Windsor’s police department recently issued information about in an increase in vehicle tire thefts, stolen vehicles and burglaries to vehicles in the previous two weeks.
“Please remember to lock your vehicle and take all valuables out to help prevent theft. If you notice any suspicious activity, don’t hesitate to contact the Hopewell Township Police Department,” the department wrote on social media. “Your vigilance helps keep our community safe.”
This reminder by the police department also follows message to residents on Aug. 2 about more than 30 vehicle burglaries that occurred in late July in the northeast section of Hopewell Township and Hopewell Borough.
Those burglaries which occurred on July 28 involved location areas – Howard Way, Bailey Drive, Van Dyke Road, Taylor Terrace, Cedar, View Point and Crestview.
According to township police, in those burglaries none of the vehicles were stolen, but some of the vehicles had items taken from inside. Credit cards and driver’s licenses were some of the items taken. Other items had been left or thrown away or left behind in the area.
In vehicle burglaries in late July that hit the township and Hopewell Borough the vehicles broken into had been left unlocked and there was no forced entry by the perpetrators.
The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) released earlier this year that more than 1.02 million vehicles were reported stolen in 2023, which was a 1% increase from 2022. California, Texas, and Florida were the top three states in vehicle thefts by volume in 2023 – 208,668 (California), 115,013 (Texas), 46,213 (Florida).
