Secaucus, NJ – In an unprecedented move aimed at curbing the rising tide of car thefts, the town of Secaucus has announced plans to install security cameras at every ingress and egress point. This initiative, the first of its kind in the state, involves the placement of 44 cameras across the 6.6-square-mile island town, surrounded by the Hackensack River.
Following a unanimous vote by the town council, $500,000 has been allocated for this extensive surveillance project. The decision comes in response to an alarming increase in car thefts, with 39 vehicles reported stolen last year, up from 23 the previous year.
Mayor Michael Gonnelli expressed the town’s unique position to undertake such a measure, citing Secaucus’s geographical advantage. “We’re the only ones in the state that will have every entrance and exit camera’d,” Gonnelli stated, highlighting the strategic advantage of monitoring the limited access points to the town.
Police Chief Dennis Miller emphasized the broader crime prevention aspect of this initiative, noting that stolen vehicles often facilitate other criminal activities, including burglaries and violent crimes.
“Auto theft is at the hub of a lot of issues,” Miller remarked, underscoring the significance of the new surveillance system in the town’s crime-fighting arsenal.
The surveillance system will focus on capturing license plates rather than identifying drivers, ensuring privacy concerns are addressed. Chief Miller reassured that the primary goal is to detect criminal activity, not to monitor the movements of Secaucus residents.