JACKSON – You’ve heard the expression, “if you see something, say something,” in regards to suspicious activity. Officials reminded residents to keep that motto in mind.
Mayor Michael Reina issued an urgent warning on April 8 to all members of the community “to remain vigilant and cautious.”
He noted, that “over the past few weeks, there have been reported incidents of burglaries, break-ins, car and bicycle thefts within our vicinity.”
“As your mayor, I take the safety and security of Jackson residents very seriously. We implore everyone to stay aware of their surroundings and report any suspicious activities or individuals immediately to the local police department,” he said.
Police Chief Matthew Kunz told The Jackson Times, “There was a recent burglary to a vacant residence, reported on Saturday April 6, when the homeowner returned from vacation and discovered (there had been a burglary). Prior to that, on March 25, a resident reported a burglary, although the home was secure, and there was no forced entry. They did cite jewelry as missing.”
Chief Kunz added that “on March 18, a resident reported a burglary, although the home was secure, and there was no forced entry. They cited cash and possibly an iPad missing. On March 4, there was a commercial burglary to ‘Jamba Juice’ on Monmouth Road.”
“A January 14 residential burglary is believed to be tied to the car theft rings that come down to Monmouth and Ocean counties. Nothing was known to be taken, the suspect(s) fled the home,” the chief added.
As for recent thefts the chief said, “a bicycle was reported stolen on April 6, off East Veterans Highway. On March 11, a resident reported their temporary registration stolen from their vehicle and there were several thefts (shoplifting) from the Jackson Premium Outlets over the last month.”
Chief Kunz noted several other thefts that had been reported but turned out to be unfounded.
“The theft reports are geographically random. The Monmouth-Ocean trend of burglaries in order to steal vehicles typically would occur where residents have a ‘high end’ vehicle, such as a BMW, Range Rover, etc,” the chief explained.
“Locally, Lakewood and Toms River have seen significantly more burglary/vehicle theft activity. Whitesville Road in Toms River being the closest, geographically, to Jackson Township,” Kunz added.
He said, “in the past, thieves have targeted the Royal Grove community off of East Veterans Highway, as well as Whispering Hills off Leesville Road. Our patrols are regularly updated as to such occurrences, so they may adjust their patrols accordingly.”
“As ever, the best advice remains to lock all vehicles and homes, utilize exterior motion lights, and report any suspicious activity immediately to 732-928-1111,” the chief added. For any emergency situations call 911.
Mayor Reina warned residents to “refrain from approaching any individuals whom you deem suspicious, as this could potentially escalate a situation and put your safety at risk.”
“Your cooperation and proactive involvement are crucial in helping us combat these criminal activities and ensure the safety of our neighborhoods,” Reina said.
The mayor added, “together, we can work towards maintaining a secure and peaceful community. Let’s stay united in safeguarding our homes and families.”
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