Advocates Push for Stricter Legislation Against Underage Car Theft in New Jersey

March 27 :
The mayors of Edison and Marlboro have united and urged the state to pass stronger laws to combat teenage car theft. Concerns about adolescent criminality have been rekindled by the recent incident, which involved two youths, ages 16 and 17, trying to carry out an attack and carjacking at the Patel Brothers store on Oak Tree Road on March 15.

Then a third young person, a 17-year-old Rahway resident, was taken into custody. The owner of the store's son's orange Bentley SUV was the main target of the attempted carjacking, so the owner had to fight himself and take off with his key fob.

Mayors Hornik of Marlboro and Joshi of Edison have both expressed their dissatisfaction and called for more forceful measures to stop these types of deviant conduct. Mayor Hornik underlined the need for severe penalties, emphasising that treating offenders, regardless of age, lightly creates a negative precedent.

Mayor Joshi established a police substation on Oak Tree Road, the scene of the tragedy, in an effort to show that he understood how serious the situation was. This action emphasises how urgently comprehensive solutions are needed to curb the rising incidence of crime.
Both mayors, law enforcement representatives, and impacted parties attended a joint press conference at the new substation where they emphasised the demand for legislative amendments. Mayor Joshi specifically argued that minors involved in home invasions and burglaries should be tried as adults, highlighting the shortcomings of the current legal system's failure to prioritise the rights of victims.

A coordinated effort to strengthen deterrents against adolescent delinquency is demonstrated by the cooperative efforts between law enforcement and community leaders. In the face of an increase in juvenile-related offences, stakeholders seek to protect communities and maintain justice through persistent advocacy and legislative action. The public is asked to contribute any relevant data to support current investigations.

The allegations against the young people who were arrested were described by Deputy Chief Robert Dudash, who listed a number of infractions such as carjacking, serious assault, and burglary. Even though two of the perpetrators are in custody, the investigation is still ongoing, and the third person is being sought after.