MILLBURN, NJ – At the township committee meeting on May 7, residents voiced concerns about the recent surge in attempted and actual burglaries of homes and cars, as well as car thefts. Township Attorney Jarrid Kantor, who also represents Livingston and North Caldwell, noted that these crimes are affecting those areas too.
Rob Friedman highlighted that Essex County crime is “reaching crisis proportions,” mentioning that his neighborhood saw seven home invasions and car thefts over the past six to 12 months. He said his house was broken into at 9:30 p.m. on a Thursday night a couple of weeks ago.
Friedman stressed the need for immediate action, suggesting that the town, especially the police chief, should meet with local residents to brainstorm solutions to the ongoing crime wave.
Julia Wang, another resident, shared her unsettling experience. Her house alarm went off while she was out, prompting her to rush back and call the police. “The police arrived in seven minutes,” she said. However, the burglars had already broken through the sliding glass door, grabbing everything they could in just four minutes.
David Klein, whose neighborhood is the furthest from the police station, suggested increasing the police presence, perhaps with an auxiliary unit closer to his area. “We need your help, and we need it now,” he said.
Christine Best brought a sign to the meeting that her neighbor made, which reads, “WARNING, THIS PROPERTY IS MONITORED BY PRIVATE SECURITY GUARDS.” She and others stressed that stopping house and car break-ins should be a top priority for the local administration. They also asked for more police patrols.
Several residents proposed that Millburn adopt the Nixle alert system, which other towns like Summit and Maplewood use to send alerts when a crime occurs in the area.
Jean Pasternak suggested forming a Citizens Crime and Safety Committee, a partnership between residents, the police force, county board members, and other local officials, to address safety concerns. Council Member Ben Stoller agreed that Nixle, a Citizens Crime and Safety Committee, and having the police chief attend a township committee meeting to discuss crime prevention with residents were all positive steps. He also reminded everyone that the town passed a local law granting authority to arrest assailants.
Council Member Michael Cohen acknowledged that certain neighborhoods in Millburn are more isolated, making them easier targets for criminals. He suggested that the police chief might consider adding overnight patrols to those areas.
Business Administrator Alex McDonald announced that the police are being trained to conduct safety consultations at residents’ homes to suggest ways to improve security. Appointments will be available starting May 30, with more details to come.
Deputy Mayor Frank Saccomandi mentioned his participation in a Neighborhood Watch meeting, which Assembly Member Rosy Bagolie also attended.
Some residents argued that more money should go toward police overtime and additional coverage instead of funding other projects like the Paper Mill. Council members Tara Prupis and Stoller clarified that there is funding for police overtime, and that Paper Mill funding would come from a bond issue, not directly from the police budget.
