RKO36 wrote:
Belleville might be more reluctant, but they have enough problems with criminals coming in from Newark. They don't want to make it easier for them.
kilroy wrote:
Let's see if I get their argument right, residents of the auto theft capital of the world are going to take the light rail into their town, steal their big screen TV and get back on the light rail instead of stealing a SUV in Newark and driving there. Is that right?
Ken W2KB wrote:
Not how it usually happens. The thieves take public transit to the outlying town, steal a vehicle there and drive back to a chop shop. Sometimes also breaking and entering with stolen property transported back in the stolen vehicle. That is a very common mode for crime where transit from a high crime city exists to surburban areas.
kilroy wrote:
Ken,
Do you know if Nutley, Belville, etc are counted in Newark's auto theft numbers? For years, Newark was #1 in the world in auto theft. I've seen it happen to a parked car I was sitting next to at a light rght off Broad Street. I don't think Newark would be #1 in auto theft if the riff-raff was taking the bus/train/light rail to another town to steal a car. Not saying they aren't stealing a car to take back but I think they're getting there in stolen car and not public transportation. Surely they would be fighting to end bus service and to their towns if that were the case and I haven't hearsd that one yet.
RKO36, Ken W2KB, do you have anything to support your statements about criminals using public transit to commit crimes, or are you expressing opinion as fact?
Don't most US residents have a car already? If there were no public transit would that really reduce criminal's mobility enough to be worthwhile?
Because private transportation is so ubiquitous I think that the crimes public transit increases are those perpetrated on public transit itself. For example a mugger who doesn't have a car might prey on passengers waiting at the station or bus stop. You seem to be saying that public transit will help increase crime in the neighborhood, and I don't see why.
I don't believe that not having a car tends to make someone a criminal anymore than having a car makes someone honest.
I agree with kilroy, it doesn't make sense for anyone to use public transit for both legs of their burglary spree. Even if they're going to try to steal something they can carry, they'd still be interested in a fast getaway.
Ken W2KB, your idea that they might take public transit somewhere to steal a car seems reasonable for a lone thief trying to steal one near the train station, but why would their target ever be far outside the station's parking lot? I think automobiles and plasma television screens have more danger from kilroy's notion that they, whether a lone thief or one with partner, who don't have a car already, would steal one near where they live to take to the target neighborhood.