Car Theft Attempted Near Gov. Murphy's Middletown Home: PD

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — There was an attempted car theft Sunday at a home located near Gov. Phil Murphy's mansion in Middletown, according to Middletown Police.

At approximately 3:25 p.m. this past Sunday, Sept. 11, there was an attempted car theft at a house that is in close proximity to the governor’s house, said police. The suspects tried to break into the home's garage. News 12 reported this occurred at the home next door to the governor's.

It was two suspects who tried to get inside the garage, where a Land Rover was parked inside, said Middletown Mayor Tony Perry, who said he had been previously briefed by police on the break-in attempt.

The suspects were not successful and drove off in a white BMW, said police. There were not apprehended.

Gov. Murphy lives with his family in a private home in the area of Navesink River Road in Middletown.

Gov. Murphy has not yet spoken publicly about the incident. His spokeswoman did not immediately respond to Patch when asked about the incident.

High-end car theft has surged in New Jersey this year, and Attorney General Matt Platkin even changed policy to now allow police to chase cars suspected of being used in car thefts or breaking into homes. In his first term in office, Murphy outlawed high-speed police chases, as part of his larger reforms on policing and because Murphy said they were too dangerous to other drivers.

The wealthy corner of Monmouth County where Gov. Murphy lives, including towns like Holmdel, Rumson and Middletown, has been particularly targeted by car thieves: There have been 20 cars stolen from Middletown in 2022, with seven stolen in the month of August alone, say local police.

The Middletown mayor said Sunday's attempted car theft so close to where the governor lives reiterated his repeated calls that New Jersey bring back a cash bail system, and keep suspected car thieves held in jail.

"It doesn't take a PhD to figure this out: We have eliminated cash bail and it is has created a brazen culture where there are no consequences for crime," said Perry, a Republican. "Right now today in New Jersey, we have someone who tries to break into a home and tries to steal something and they spend less than an hour in jail. It's mind-blowing. It's our job to protect the public safety of our residents and that is not happening right now."

Just last Friday, Perry said car thefts are turning New Jersey "into the Wild West" and warned someone will get hurt soon.

State Sen. Declan O'Scanlon said Sunday's break-in attempt so close to the governor's house means there should be "harsher penalties" for the juvenile teens who are often commissioned by older adults to steal luxury cars.

"Right now, the teens who commit these crimes spend very, very little time in jail," said O'Scanlon (R-NJ13). "They should be given the same penalties and jail time as applies to adults in these crimes. That would be a big, big incentive in reducing this."

On this topic:

As NJ Car Thefts Surge, State Revises Policy To Allow Police Pursuit (April 2022)

Attempted Car Theft From Tinton Falls Driveway, With Child Inside (April 2022)