A recent string of attempted and successful vehicle thefts was a major topic at the May 1 Harrison Township Committee meeting.
The committee outlined a plan for how to combat the thefts and recover stolen items and it heard from Harrison Police Chief Ron Cundey, who discussed the history of the thefts and acknowledged that suspects are still at large.
“Our Police Chief Ron Cundey attended this work session meeting to specifically address the issue and provide insight to the measures being taken to combat these criminal acts,” said Mayor Louis Manzo, who noted that the chief doesn’t normally attend the meetings.
“He detailed the documented history of these car-theft rings and the multiple law- enforcement agencies (local, county, state and federal) that are engaged in this process,” Manzo added.
Among Cundey’s major points at the meeting was the importance of contacting the police immediately if a citizen sees a suspicious person. To improve communications, the chief introduced a new police platform planned for July that will help increase his department’s ability to connect with residents.
Manzo stated that “minutes matter in most cases,” adding that the thefts have been caught on home video and posted online. The committee also discussed what residents can do to avoid being theft and burglary victims and announced that added street lighting and more police patrols will be put in place.
“The method of operation of these criminals is to target higher-end vehicles that are unlocked,” Manzo explained. “They will burglarize the vehicles, and if the keys are in the car, they steal it.
“The township is rolling out a new website shortly and will increase the public service announcements going forward,” he added. “Increased police patrols and street lighting will also be employed to combat this issue.”
