Tweet
Carjackings at N.J. malls and shopping centers not common, police say
Carjackings like the one took place Sunday night at the Short Hills Mall are not common in New Jersey. (Robert Sciarrino/The Star-Ledger)Print By Jeff Goldman/The Star-Ledger The Star-Ledger
Email the author | Follow on Twitter
on December 16, 2013 at 11:41 AM, updated December 16, 2013 at 12:06 PM
Carjackings that take place at malls and shopping centers make up just a small percentage of such incidents in New Jersey.
Of the 379 reported carjackings in New Jersey in 2011, only 13 happened in a parking lot, business strip or shopping center, according to State Police data. In all the crimes, only one person was killed.
Most carjackings (326) took place in a residential area with 10 happening along a highway and another 21 in an intersection, the data says.
On Sunday night, a 30-year-old lawyer from Hoboken was fatally shot during an apparent carjacking in a parking deck at the Short Hills Mall in Millburn. Dustin Friedland died at Morristown Medical Center Sunday night.
Their vehicle, a 2012 silver Range Rover, was found abandoned in Newark this morning. No arrests have yet been made, police said.
Although carjackings in commercial areas are rare, the overwhelming majority (225) of them in 2011 happened in Essex County, where the Short Hills Mall is located. And Sunday, according to the data, is the most popular day for carjackings.
May, with 52 carjackings, was the most popular month for carjackings, according to the report. November, with 50 carjackings, was second and December, with 40, was third.
Statewide, there were 35 Mercedes Benz and 35 Nissans carjacked during 2011.
Essex County saw 428 carjackings in 2011, and 414 in 2012, according to information released by the Essex County Sheriff's office earlier this year. In late August, county officials said Essex was on pace the match the 2011 total again.
There were only arrests in 2 percent, or nine, of the 379 carjackings in 2011, officials said.
Carjackings have increased nationally in recent years as vehicles become harder and harder to steal, according to police officials. Newer model cars and trucks, like the Range Rover involved in Sunday night's carjacking, often come with advanced security systems that make it very difficult for would be criminals to steal the vehicles unless the owner has already placed the keys in the ignition.
Staff writer James Queally contributed to this report.
--------
Always be on the look out when you're shopping and returning to your vehicle. - situational awareness
Carjackings like the one took place Sunday night at the Short Hills Mall are not common in New Jersey. (Robert Sciarrino/The Star-Ledger)Print By Jeff Goldman/The Star-Ledger The Star-Ledger
Email the author | Follow on Twitter
on December 16, 2013 at 11:41 AM, updated December 16, 2013 at 12:06 PM
Carjackings that take place at malls and shopping centers make up just a small percentage of such incidents in New Jersey.
Of the 379 reported carjackings in New Jersey in 2011, only 13 happened in a parking lot, business strip or shopping center, according to State Police data. In all the crimes, only one person was killed.
Most carjackings (326) took place in a residential area with 10 happening along a highway and another 21 in an intersection, the data says.
On Sunday night, a 30-year-old lawyer from Hoboken was fatally shot during an apparent carjacking in a parking deck at the Short Hills Mall in Millburn. Dustin Friedland died at Morristown Medical Center Sunday night.
Their vehicle, a 2012 silver Range Rover, was found abandoned in Newark this morning. No arrests have yet been made, police said.
Although carjackings in commercial areas are rare, the overwhelming majority (225) of them in 2011 happened in Essex County, where the Short Hills Mall is located. And Sunday, according to the data, is the most popular day for carjackings.
May, with 52 carjackings, was the most popular month for carjackings, according to the report. November, with 50 carjackings, was second and December, with 40, was third.
Statewide, there were 35 Mercedes Benz and 35 Nissans carjacked during 2011.
Essex County saw 428 carjackings in 2011, and 414 in 2012, according to information released by the Essex County Sheriff's office earlier this year. In late August, county officials said Essex was on pace the match the 2011 total again.
There were only arrests in 2 percent, or nine, of the 379 carjackings in 2011, officials said.
Carjackings have increased nationally in recent years as vehicles become harder and harder to steal, according to police officials. Newer model cars and trucks, like the Range Rover involved in Sunday night's carjacking, often come with advanced security systems that make it very difficult for would be criminals to steal the vehicles unless the owner has already placed the keys in the ignition.
Staff writer James Queally contributed to this report.
--------
Always be on the look out when you're shopping and returning to your vehicle. - situational awareness
Paul Marin -19 is one thing, 20 is a whole other matter. It gets even worse if they win the UCL. *groan*. 
05/18/2011.MU fans naah cough, but all a unuh a vomit?-Lazie 1/11/2015
Comment