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Paramus Mall Car Thefts Plummet, Burglaries Down, Too

PARAMUS, N.J. -- The malls in Paramus once were a popular grazing ground for car thieves. Burglaries also were a problem.

NJSP: Reported crime in Paramus was down in 6 out of 7 categories in 2016.

NJSP: Reported crime in Paramus was down in 6 out of 7 categories in 2016.

Photo Credit: COURTESY: Paramus PD

Not anymore.

Reported crime in Paramus was down in six of sevean categories last year, according to the State of New Jersey Uniformed Crime Report. 

Most significant were a nearly 10% decrease in burglaries -- even factoring in a late-summer rash of residential break-ins -- and a whopping 61.8% drop in motor vehicle theft.

Cars, SUVs and other vehicles are being stolen in increasing numbers in northern Bergen towns. Yet things have quieted down at the malls.

"We credit these decreases to a proactive approach to crime and an expansion of our collaboration and information sharing with other law enforcement entities, such as the Bergen County Prosecutors Office, Bergen County Sheriff’s Department, New Jersey State Police," Police Chief Kenneth R. Ehrenberg said.

He also cited Paramus’ participation in New Jersey Corr-Stat program. 

Corr Stat and the Real Time Crime Center "is a collaborative endeavor among state, county, and city officials and law enforcement agencies, scholars, and community and business partners to reduce violent and property crimes in the Corr-Stat Region of New Jersey," the chief said.

The Corr-Stat Region is the area that represents more than 80 cities along the Route 21 corridor, stretching from Jersey City to Paterson and including Newark.

The only upward spike in Paramus last year was in larcenies -- to 1,097 from 961. But these include shoplifting, which authorities everywhere say is increasing because growing numbers of heroin users are stealing merchandise to sell for drugs.

                                     2015                 2016        1992

  • Rape                       2             1 (-50%)             0
  • Robbery               25            21 (-16%)          24
  • Agg Assault        13            11 (-15.4%)       65
  • Simple Assault 149          119 (-20.1%)    N/A
  • Burglary               41             37 (-9.8%)      208
  • Larceny/Theft   961       1097 (+14.2%) 2,580
  • Car Theft              34           13 (-61.8%)      785  

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