Gloucester Township PD Stakeout Results in Arrest of Night Time Serial Car Bandit

Gloucester Township NJ (February 2, 2020)–On January 29, at approximately 1253 AM, Gloucester Township Police patrol officers and detectives were conducting a plainclothes surveillance stakeout operation in reference to series of unsecured vehicle burglaries and motor vehicle thefts. This car thief was preying on Gloucester Township

resident’s unlocked vehicles.

Thanks to multiple vigilant neighbors and the Gloucester Township Police Department’s partnership with Ring Neighbor’s Application, detectives developed a suspect and immediately began conducting

pro-active police operations to deter and capture this thief’s activity.

Plainclothes officers during the stakeout located the thief, identified as Justin Hill of Vineland, breaking in to several unsecured vehicles in the townhome community of Knoll Run Blackwood. During surveillance, Hill entered a silver Ford Focus, reported stolen out of Mays Landing NJ and left the development. Stakeout officers notified nearby marked patrol units and attempted to stop Hill driving the stolen vehicle. Hill fled and eluded police traveling down a one way street at a high rate of speed and completely disregarded a red traffic signal. Police located the stolen vehicle unoccupied on S. Venetia Ave. in Blenheim Gloucester Township. Hill fled on foot into a heavily wooded area and a perimeter was established. New Jersey State Police Air

Unit assisted and Gloucester Township Police K-9 Team was deployed on a track. After several hours,Hill was not located. Justin Hill was arrested by the Gloucester Township Police on 1/30/20 with the assistance of the Vineland Police Department. Hill was charged with several counts of Credit Card Theft (3rd/4th degree),

Receiving Stolen Property (35d degree), Eluding Police (2nd Degree), Burglary (3rd degree), and two (2) counts of Criminal Attempt Burglary (3rd degree). Hill was remanded to the Camden County Correctional

Facility pending a Central First Appearance in accordance with the New Jersey Criminal Reform Act.

Arrest: Justin Hill 25 YOA 700 block of E. Sherman Ave. Vineland NJ 08361

The arrest of this individual is another example of the pro-active law enforcement campaigns targeting these thieves who believe they can prey on the busy lifestyles of our residents. Thieves may think they

can continue this easy criminal activity, but eventually WE will find and ARREST you. The Gloucester Township Police Department will continue to attack criminal activity with new and innovative police

strategies, local police partnerships, and most importantly the partnership

Gloucester Township police are providing tips on how to prevent car burglaries. A vast majority of burglaries happen to unlocked cars, so police remind residents to lock their car doors.

– Don\’t leave valuables in plain sight. Offenders will look into the vehicle first to see if it is worth

breaking into;

– Park in a well-lit area in the evening hours;

– If you park in your garage, make sure you lock your garage

-Call Gloucester Township Police if you see anyone suspicious in the area. It is always better to be safe than sorry. Residents can contact our twenty four (24) hour Community Policing Dispatch Center at 856-228-4500 or simply call 911.

To sign up for the free Neighbors app click on the attached link:

https://shop.ring.com/pages/neighbors

Address/Location

Gloucester Township Police Department

1261 Chews Landing Rd

Gloucester Township, NJ 08021

Contact

Emergency: 9-1-1

Non-emergencies: 856-228-4500

Gloucester Township Police Yellow Dot Program

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP NJ–The yellow dot program is simple method of documenting a person’s medical/emergency contact information and notifying emergency responders of that information in the event of a serious motor vehicle crash or emergency where the driver is incapacitated or unable to speak.

The packet includes an emergency information form that residents complete with their personal information, any serious medical issues, medications, doctors contact information and/or anything that they feel would be beneficial to first responders, as well as recent photograph of themselves. The form is then placed in the vehicles glove compartment. Along with the form is a 2 ½ inch yellow, reflectorized circular decal that is placed on the rear window or rear drivers side window. It is this “yellow dot” that signifies to responders that the drivers information is located within the vehicle.

The yellow dot program is a free voluntary program. If you would like a Yellow Dot Packet sent to you, please contact Cpl. Jenn McLaughlin or Ptl. Erica Marconi at communityrelations@gtpolice.com or 856-228-4011

Address/Location

Gloucester Township Police Department

1261 Chews Landing Rd

Gloucester Township, NJ 08021

Contact

Emergency: 9-1-1

Non-emergencies: 856-228-4500

Maple Shade PD Alert: Beware! Phone Scammers are Active in the Area

MAPLE SHADE, NJ (January 28, 2020)—-Authorities have reported an increase in various scams across the country which typically involve telemarketing scammers posing as

lawyers, customs, or lottery officials targeting residents with fraudulent promises of large cash prizes, vacation getaways, vehicles, or other prizes.

The perpetrators tell “winners” they can claim a prize if they pay for shipping, insurance, customs duties, or taxes, by providing bank or credit card information, or by wiring the money. In some situations, the scammers ask their victims to send a check. When they have the bank routing number, they use it to make unauthorized withdrawals from the account.

**There is no Prize**

The scammers keep their victims money. They can be threatening, relentless and manipulative. They commonly prey on older adults. If you have older friends or relatives, remind them to be careful and seek another opinion before giving money to anyone under these circumstances.

REMEMBER

o If someone claims you have won a foreign lottery, it is a scam. Hang up immediately.

o Beware of solicitations asking you to send money to another country.

o Do not believe statements that you need to pay money to “collect your winnings.”

o Do not be rushed into sending money by a sense of urgency or threats.

o If it sounds too good to be true, it is.

Address/Location

Maple Shade Township Police Department

200 N Stiles Ave

Maple Shade Township, NJ 08052

Contact

Emergency: 9-1-1

Non-emergencies: 856-234-8300

Gloucester Township Police Arrested 7 People During Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Campaign

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ–During the past holiday season, The Gloucester Township Police Department (GTPD) partnered with the National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration (NHTSA) and participated in the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Year End Holiday Crackdown. Between December 6, 2019 and January 1, 2020 GTPD increased proactive enforcement operations utilizing marked and unmarked patrols designed to combat instances of Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) due to drugs and alcohol. As a result of these enhanced efforts, GTPD showed zero tolerance for impaired driving, arresting 7 offenders for Driving While Intoxicated. Additionally, 80 drivers were issued summonses for driving with a suspended driver’s license and 79 summonses were issued for careless, reckless or otherwise unsafe driving behavior.

In addition to the 7 arrests for DWI, GTPD officers assigned to the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign also made five arrests of individuals with outstanding warrants and possession of a controlled dangerous substance. During one of the proactive patrols in the area of the Black Horse Pike an officer conducted a motor vehicle stop where the driver fled from the vehicle, leading officers on a foot pursuit. After a perimeter was established officers located the driver who was taken into custody and subsequently charged with Eluding, Resisting Arrest and Obstruction of Justice.

Nationwide approximately 11,000 people are killed and over 300,000 injured each year in impaired driving related crashes. This means that roughly 30 people a day or one person every 48 minutes dies as a result of an impaired driving related crash. The GTPD was proud to work with the NHTSA in support of the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Year End Crackdown campaign which aimed to reduce the number of people who lost their lives in traffic crashes involving impairment. Remember, drunk driving is not only illegal; it is a matter of life and death. Whenever you head out you should plan ahead and designate a sober driver. If you see a suspected drunk driver on the road contact law enforcement immediately to report the incident. You could save the life of that driver and any number of potential innocent victims. For additional information on the dangers of drinking and driving and on the designated driver program, visit http://www.nj.gov/oag/hts/index.html

Address/Location

Gloucester Township Police Department

1261 Chews Landing Rd

Gloucester Township, NJ 08021

Contact

Emergency: 9-1-1

Non-emergencies: 856-228-4500

Gloucester Township Police Chief David Harkin\’s Message to Residents

Gloucester Township NJ (January 25, 2020)–As we continue to move into 2020, I am pleased to report that the preliminary data for the crime statistics for 2019 indicate continued good news for the residents of Gloucester Township. Our community policing initiatives and proactive policing philosophy, have resulted in Violent Crime (Robbery, Murder, Forcible Rape, and Aggravated Assault)

dropping by 18%

(77 incidents in 2018 and 63 incidents in 2019). The Non-Violent Crime (Burglary, Theft, Motor Vehicle Theft, and Arson) also

dropped by 7%

(948 incidents in 2018 and 881 incidents in 2019). The overall Index Crimes Total

decreased by 7.89%

(1026 incidents in 2018 and 945 incidents in 2019).

Chief David Harkin

While we are very pleased with these results, we know that we can even do better. We are regularly analyzing any crime trend and are looking for innovative ways to combat and lower crime in our community. But we need the help of our community members to continue to make Gloucester Township even safer. No one is better at spotting trouble in a neighborhood than the people who live there. If you see something out of place, call us. If you have a surveillance camera system, go to our website at

www.gtpolice.com

and register it with us. Contact our Community Relations Bureau at

communityrelations@gtpolice.com

to find out what you can do to make Gloucester Township a safer community.

Our officers are committed to your safety, and I am proud of their hard work and commitment to serve our community. I am proud to serve with the men and women of the Gloucester Township Police Department, and proud to be your Chief of Police.

Address/Location

Gloucester Township Police Department

1261 Chews Landing Rd

Gloucester Township, NJ 08021

Contact

Emergency: 9-1-1

Non-emergencies: 856-228-4500

Gloucester Township Police Chaplain Program

GTPD Community Bulletin:

Did you know Gloucester Township Police Department has a Chaplain Program? Are you a clergy member who is looking to join the GTPD as a volunteer chaplain?

The Gloucester Township Police Department works together in a partnership with qualified religious leaders, regardless of denomination, who are available to respond during a crisis or time of need in providing a more personalized quality of service to the community. The goal is by having the Police & Clergy working together during certain crisis or incidents that a more comprehensive response will be given to those in need. The religious leader will perform tasks of a more emotional or social nature while the Officer handles those tasks that are of a law enforcement nature.

GTPD is sponsoring a basic police chaplain training through the Police Chaplain Training Program on February 10 and 11th, 2020. Please see the attached flyer for sign-up details.

For more information on the training contact 609-774-0283 or gwholden@comcast.net

For more information on how to become a chaplain with the Gloucester Township Police Department please contact: communityrelations@gtpolice.com or (856)228-4011

Address/Location

Gloucester Township Police Department

1261 Chews Landing Rd

Gloucester Township, NJ 08021

Contact

Emergency: 9-1-1

Non-emergencies: 856-228-4500

Gloucester Township Police Department Is Now Using Neighbors By Ring

To Connect With Residents and Solve Crime

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ (January 18, 2020)–GTPD is encouraging all residents to sign up with Neighbors by Ring. You do not need a Ring device to sign up and you will be able to communicate with neighbors in your area. You will have the ability to post and view video of crimes and suspicious activity.

We have listed frequently asked questions about the Neighbors App below:

How does the Neighbors App work?

The Neighbors App uses your address to create a radius around your home. If anyone shares an alert on the App about crime or safety within that radius, you’ll get a notification on your phone and tablet. Conversely, if you share an alert on the App about a crime or safety issue in your radius, your neighbors will also get a notification on their phones and tablets. You can then comment on these alerts to provide additional information about local issues, give tips to avoid affected areas, share photos or videos to help neighbors stay on the lookout, etc.

You can narrow your radius to only focus on hyper-local issues. Or if you live in a more rural location, you can expand your radius to include nearby communities and landmarks.

Do I need a Ring device to use the Neighbors App?

No. Anyone with a compatible iOS or Android device can download and use the Neighbors App for free to help reduce local crime.

How does the Neighbors App work with law enforcement?

Neighbors partners with local law enforcement so they can share official, important crime and safety updates and work together with their local community to build trust and make neighborhoods safer.

When using Neighbors, law enforcement see the same interface that all users see; the content is the same, the exact locations of posts are obfuscated, and the user’s personal identity is not displayed.

There are two key differences, though: 1) law enforcement can view public posts from within their jurisdiction (instead of just their ‘neighborhood’) and 2) law enforcement posts are identified so users can clearly see that they are the source of the content. This means that posts or comments made by law enforcement are clearly marked with their official title and name.

Law enforcement can only view the publicly available content in the Neighbors App, unless a user explicitly and voluntarily chooses to share their own recordings with law enforcement. Exact locations of devices and user information are never provided to law enforcement without a user’s express permission or a valid and binding legal demand properly served on us.

Law enforcement can request information from users within their jurisdiction.Law enforcement must reference a relevant case number in order to make a request within a specific, limited time range and area. Ring will then ask a targeted group of users in that area if they are willing to share any relevant footage with law enforcement. It’s then up to the user to share their video file(s) or decline the request. Users can also opt out of all future requests by law enforcement. Again, Ring will not release user information without a user’s express permission or a valid and binding legal demand properly served on us.

Camera systems help deter package theft. If a theft occurs and you have video footage, we encourage residents to report the incident immediately to the police department and use the neighbors app to let surrounding neighbors know what occurred.

To sign up for the free Neighbors app click on the attached link:

https://shop.ring.com/pages/neighbors

Address/Location

Gloucester Township Police Department

1261 Chews Landing Rd

Gloucester Township, NJ 08021

Contact

Emergency: 9-1-1

Non-emergencies: 856-228-4500

Alert Neighbor Contacts Police To Report Vehicle Burglars

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ–The Gloucester Township police report on January 15, 2020 at approximately 4:12 am, an alert neighbor noticed two suspicious males walking in the unit block of Marcia Ct. in the

Blackwood section of town. They contacted police who quickly responded and set up a perimeter. Shortly after, officers located two males walking on Morningstar Ct. and ordered them to stop. The males fled and one juvenile male was apprehended after a foot pursuit through several yards. The other male is believed to be an adult and remains at large. Several vehicle burglaries were found and the juvenile male was charged with each, processed and released to a parent. The investigation is continuing and detectives are using our new Camera Registry to help identify residences with surveillance video. Several videos are being viewed which may have already revealed possible video evidence to help detectives ID the second male. The investigation is continuing.

Residents are reminded to always lock their vehicles and refrain from leaving valuables in the open. Most of the vehicle burglaries reported to Gloucester Township Police are of unlocked vehicles.

If anyone has additional information or knowledge of these burglaries, please contact the Gloucester Township Police Department at 856-228-4500 or call GTPD Anonymous Crime Tip Line: 856-842-5560.

To send an Anonymous Tip Via Text Message to Gloucester Township Police, text the keyword TIP GLOTWPPD and your tip message to 888777.

You may also click here to access our Anonymous Web Tip page: https:local.nixle.com/tip/alert/5170177

CERT Training Teaches Disaster Preparedness, and it\’s Free

(Gloucester Township, NJ) – In the wake of extreme weather events in the United States and elsewhere, many Americans have become increasingly interested in disaster preparedness and response skills. This March, the Camden County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) will offer a free, 20-hour training curriculum to prepare interested Camden County residents to help protect themselves, their family, and their community during a disaster.

“The CERT program is an all-risk, all-hazard training designed to help you protect your family and neighbors in the event of a disaster,” said Freeholder Jonathan Young, liaison to the Camden County Department of Public Safety. “CERT team members are not first responders but are uniquely prepared to respond during traumatic events. This is an excellent opportunity to give yourself and your family peace of mind in an increasingly unpredictable environment.”

The training is comprised of both practical exercises and classroom instruction and includes:

Recognizing types of hazards

Disaster medical operations

Fire safety

Light search and rescue

Lift and carries

Debris removal techniques

Door breaching

Training will be conducted:

Friday, March 6: 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Saturday, March 7: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Sunday, March 8: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Sessions are held at the Charles P. Dougherty Sr. Center located at 508 Lambert Avenue in Mount Ephraim. Once initial training is completed, participants will be eligible for additional skills training throughout the year.

Pre-registration is required

in order to participate. Participants under the age of 18 must also receive parent/guardian permission to attend. If you are interested in training and joining the CERT Team, please register by emailing

cert@camdencodps.org

no later than Monday, March 1, 2020.

Route 47 Traffic Shift Required at 47 Bridge Over I-295 on Thursday

I-295 southbound Exit 25B to remain closed for another month

(Trenton) – New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials today announced daytime lane

closures with alternating traffic on Route 47 as the Bridge over I-295 replacement project nears completion in Deptford, Gloucester County.

Beginning at 9 a.m. tomorrow, Thursday, January 16, NJDOT’s contractor, South State, is scheduled to close one lane on the Route 47 Bridge over I-295 and set up alternating traffic to facilitate a traffic shift. In addition, the ramp from I-295 southbound to Route 47 southbound will be closed temporarily while alternating traffic is in effect. The following signed detour will be in place until approximately 3 p.m.:

I-295 southbound Exit 25A to Route 47 southbound detour:

(Thursday, January 16 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.)

Motorists on I-295 southbound wishing to take Exit 25A to Route 47 southbound will be directed to take Exit

24B/CR 551 (Westville/Woodbury Heights)

Bear left onto CR 551 South/Woodbury Heights

Continue on CR 551 South which becomes North Evergreen Avenue

Turn left onto CR 642/Red Bank Avenue, which becomes Tacoma Avenue to Route 47

By 3 p.m., traffic on the bridge will be shifted into the final configuration, with one lane open in each direction. The I-295 southbound Exit 25A ramp to Route 47 southbound will reopen.

The I-295 southbound Exit 25B ramp to Route 47 northbound will remain closed to allow for overhead sign installation.

The following detour will remain in place for approximately one month:

I-295 southbound Exit 25B to Route 47 northbound detour:

(Will remain in place for approximately one month)

Motorists on I-295 southbound wishing to take Exit 25B to Route 47 northbound will be directed to take Exit 24B to CR 551/Broadway (Westville/Woodbury Heights)

Keep right at the fork onto CR 551 north/Broadway toward Westville

Continue on CR 551 north which becomes Broadway

Turn left onto Route 47 northbound

The $7.7 million federally-funded project will replaced the existing concrete bridge deck, parapets and superstructure, which were in poor condition. It also increased the vertical clearance of the bridge up from 14 feet 4 inches, to meet current standards of 16 feet 6 inches.

Portable variable message signs are being utilized to provide advance notification to the motoring public of all traffic pattern changes associated with the work. The precise timing of the work is subject to change due to weather or other factors.

Motorists are encouraged to check NJDOT\’s traffic information website

www.511nj.org

for real-time travel information and for NJDOT news and updates follow us on the

NJDOT Facebook page

or on Twitter

@NJDOT_info