South Jersey police warn of uptick in car thefts, break-ins

Police across South Jersey are sounding the alarm about what they describe as a dramatic increase in car thefts and vehicle break-ins.

In one case last week in Washington Township, Gloucester County police shared video showing suspected car thieves jumping out of a moving vehicle and into another before speeding off. A Jeep left behind crashed.

“Lock your car doors, turn on your lights on nighttime. Lock your house doors, your fence gates. If you see something, say something call us right away,” said Chief of Police Patrick Gurcsik.

Police say similar patterns have been reported in multiple towns, with suspects entering residential neighborhoods and targeting unlocked cars.

Earlier this month in Mantua, officers were led on a chase involving stolen vehicles.

“We are seeing actors coming into residential areas and checking for unlocked doors,” Chief Matthew Brenner said.

Brenner is chief of East Greenwich Township Police. He is also past president of the Gloucester County Police Chiefs Association and is now the vice president with the New Jersey State Chiefs Association. 

“A lot of the chiefs are expressing the same concerns. People are coming from outside the area into residential areas, and the message is clear — if you live in the township make sure you get into a habit of locking cars,” Brenner said.

Nationwide, the National Insurance Crime Bureau reported vehicle thefts declined in 2025 to the lowest levels in several decades, though officials stress the crime remains significant.

In New Jersey, nearly 3,000 car thefts have been reported so far this year, according to the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office.

With the recent increase in South Jersey, police are urging residents to stay vigilant and take simple precautions.

“It’s making me aware to lock my door because I never lock my door,” a resident said.

In Deptford, police say they will continue to saturate neighborhoods with increased patrols overnight and working with state, county, and local law enforcement partners in combating the issue. But they say they need help from residents.

“Make it tough. Make it difficult. Lock your car, remove your keys, remove your fobs, turn your lights on — your house lights on. If you have cameras it’s even better, but just make it a little tough and we think they will move on,” Sgt. Robert Jones with the Deptford Police said.

This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC Philadelphia. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC Philadelphia journalist edited the article for publication.