WEST WINDSOR: Thefts prompt more RR parking patrols

By Kristine Snodgrass, Staff Writer
   WEST WINDSOR — Township police have stepped up patrol efforts in response to a rash of car burglaries at the Princeton Junction Train Station.
   Reports of smashed windows and missing electronics have been on the rise recently, with burglars targeting GPS units and laptops in particular. On a single day last month, six cars parked in the Wallace Road permit and daily parking lots were broken into, with $1,864 worth of electronics reported missing.
   Chief Joseph Pica said that in response, the department has increased its visibility in the area, with more police officers driving past the lots during the day.
   In addition, he said, surveillance units of plain-clothed policemen have been watching the lots during the day. They are stopping anyone who looks suspicious, he said, particularly during the late morning or early afternoon hours.
   But the logistics of watching such a large, unsecured area is a challenge, Chief Pica said.
   ”There’s a lot of parking spaces over there, and many different ways to get in and out of that lot,” he said.
   Detectives have been trying to track down suspects and the stolen merchandise, he said.
   ”We have our detectives following up on any leads we have, not that there are many leads,” he said.
   Drivers are advised to lock their cars and keep everything of value out of sight, including any cords that would indicate to a thief that an electronic item is likely in the car somewhere.
   ”You can’t leave your GPS unit in plain site anymore because that’s a hot item for thieves,” he said.
   Parking Authority Chairman Andy Lupo said the authority pays township police a fee to patrol the lots, but the size of the area means that, realistically, they can’t be everywhere at once.
   ”It’s very easy for someone to wander into a lot, break a window and steal something,” he said.
   In addition to township police, the authority’s own parking enforcement officers are a presence in the lots, he said, and they report any suspicious behavior they see to the police. Amtrak officers and police canine units also patrol the station, he added.
   ”We’d certainly love to ensure that no car is vandalized, but that is not practical,” he said.
   People can be careless with securing their cars when they’re rushing to catch a train, he said, leaving windows open or doors unlocked. One commuter even left his car running, he said.
   In terms of possible security measures, security cameras have been dismissed as too ineffective and expensive, he said. The footage would either have to be monitored constantly, he said, or be of high-enough quality to capture detail on perpetrators.
   ”That’s a huge undertaking,” he said.
   Ultimately, he advised people to use common sense and avoid tempting thieves with electronics out in the open.
   ”I think people just have to be aware that these are not 100 percent secured lots,” he said.